Locust Hill Vineyard owner talks June 13 wine tasting

May 22, 2015

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents a summer wine tasting on the picturesque grounds of Locust Hill Vineyard in Red Bank on Saturday, June 13, at 5 pm. Attendees will enjoy a variety of artisanal New Jersey wines, light refreshments and a performance by an NJSO Chamber Players brass ensemble. Proceeds from the wine tasting will benefit the Orchestra’s artistic and educational programs.

Locust Hill Vineyard owner James Abate, a Wall Street executive by day, chats with us about next month’s wine tasting and why he uses his wines exclusively to support non-profit organizations like the NJSO.

NJSO: How long have you owned Locust Hill Vineyard, and what inspired you to start winemaking?

James Abate: I used to own a home in Long Island and would always admire the vineyards. When I bought this property [in Red Bank] 15 years ago, I felt that its placement on the river, the elevation and soil, etc., would be perfect to start a boutique vineyard. [This property] was not a vineyard before; we grow a collection of 12 different varietals—a mix of whites and reds—and we’ve learned over the years which work best here.

Do you have a favorite among your wines?

We have a white wine that we make by blending a combination of French-hybrid and American-hybrid grapes. It’s a proprietary white that we’ve entered into some competitions; it’s a nice, clean wine that I think is great for spring and summer.

What will wine tasters experience at the event on June 13?

We will sample different wines, starting with the lightest and building to the heaviest. We’ll start with a light white wine that’s unoaked, then go to an oaked white, then reds, then a steel-only port and, to finish the night, a barrel-aged port.

What made you want to support non-profit organizations through wine events?

The vineyard produces a lot of grapes—we sell the grapes to home winemakers and commercial wineries in New Jersey, and we make our own wine in cooperation with one of the wineries. We use our wines exclusively for charitable events. I feel that the combination of the wine we produce and [picturesque setting of Locust Hill Vineyard overlooking the Navesink River] combined give us the capability to host an event that’s unique in this area of New Jersey.

What made you want to host a fundraiser for the NJSO?

I’m a classical music fan, and I’ve been to a number of NJSO concerts. We want to give back and benefit worthwhile charitable organizations like the NJSO, particularly given the number of concerts the Orchestra performs in Red Bank [at the Count Basie Theatre]. This is a special area of New Jersey with a number of hidden gems. In the end, I think this is something that can help contribute to making the NJSO even better.

Tickets for the 21-and-older event are $75 and are available for purchase online at www.njsymphony.org/summerwine or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476). Tickets must be purchased by Friday, June 12; the event’s rain date is Sunday, June 14.