Bill Text: NJ SJR58 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates last full week of September of each year as "New Jersey Wine Week."
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-06-22 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [SJR58 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SJR58-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Designates last full week of September of each year as "New Jersey Wine Week."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the last full week of September of each year as "New Jersey Wine Week."
Whereas, New Jersey's excellent wines, wineries, and vineyards are an important part of the State's agricultural diversity, tourism, and economy; and
Whereas, New Jersey is home to 50 licensed wineries in nearly every county, cultivating over 40 varieties of grapes and producing hundreds of varieties of wines across 1,082 acres of land dedicated to grape production, continuing the State's long history of wine making; and
Whereas, In 1758, two New Jersey residents won a challenge issued by London's Royal Society of the Arts to any colonist who could grow and produce red or white wine of the same caliber as that being purchased from France; and
Whereas, The Renault Winery, located in Egg Harbor Township, is the second oldest continuously operating wine facility in the United States, harvesting more than 45 tons of grapes annually; and
Whereas, New Jersey's three federally recognized viticultural areas, including Warren Hills, the first federally-recognized viticulture area, Central Delaware Valley, and newly recognized Outer Coastal Plain, are all host to special geographical terrain allowing for an exceptional grape harvest used in the production of wine in those areas; and
Whereas, The climate, sandy soil, and long growing season of New Jersey are well-suited to the development of sophisticated and delicious wines, which has helped grow the wine industry and create more jobs in the State; and
Whereas, In 1999, New Jersey instituted the Quality Wine Alliance Program to ensure that all wines sold to consumers meet certain quality standards, helping wines from a variety of New Jersey vineyards win prestigious awards for taste and quality; and
Whereas, Over 1.5 million gallons of wine are produced in New Jersey each year, and New Jersey is among the top 10 wine-producing states in the country; and
Whereas, New Jersey's vineyards generated nearly $40 million in revenue in 2013; and
Whereas, In aggregate, grape growers and the wine industry contribute about $162 billion to the U.S. economy, along with 1.1 million jobs, which account for $33 billion in wages and $17 billion in state and local tax revenues; and
Whereas, The development of New Jersey wine complements a long tradition of superb produce cultivated in New Jersey, and adds another facet to New Jersey's designation as the "Garden State"; and
Whereas, Wineries serve an important role in diversifying the agricultural products and services offered by farms in the State and are uniquely suited to cultivating growth in the State's tourism industry as hundreds of thousands of visitors attend events and festivals hosted by the State's wineries annually; and
Whereas, New Jersey offers residents and visitors several unique weekend wine trails developed by the Garden State Wine Growers Association to encourage and promote wine tourism, share information about New Jersey's wineries, and provide an opportunity to experience the award-winning wines produced in the State; and
Whereas, Establishing vineyards as travel destinations for educational and recreational purposes will help reach new consumers and generate more revenue for New Jersey's wine industry; and
Whereas, New Jersey's wines have been exciting the pallets of wine connoisseurs throughout the region and consumption of these wines benefits New Jersey farmers and residents and generates revenue in the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The last full week of September is designated as "New Jersey Wine Week" to acknowledge the significant contributions and accomplishments of the New Jersey wine industry, and the people of New Jersey are urged to explore the wine culture and history of this State, especially during this week.
2. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe "New Jersey Wine Week" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the last full week of September as "New Jersey Wine Week." This joint resolution also requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of this State to observe the last full week of September as "New Jersey Wine Week" with appropriate activities and programs.
New Jersey's reputation for quality domestic wines dates back to the colonial period when two New Jersey residents won a challenge issued by London's Royal Society of the Arts to any colonist who could grow and produce red or white wine of the same caliber as popular French wines. The Renault Winery, located in Egg Harbor Township, is the second oldest continuously operating wine facility in the United States. Today, New Jersey produces over 1.5 million gallons of wine each year, placing New Jersey among the top 10 wine-producing states in the United States, and generates nearly $40 million in revenue. As the climate, sandy soil, and long growing season of New Jersey provide the ideal environment to cultivate grapes, many of New Jersey's wines have received prestigious awards and have gained recognition for their quality.
New Jersey's wineries are an integral part of the State's tourism industry. Hundreds of thousands of visitors attend events and festivals hosted by the State's wineries annually. New Jersey offers residents and visitors several unique weekend wine trails developed by the Garden State Wine Growers Association where visitors can enjoy the award-winning wines produced in the State. Establishing vineyards as travel destinations for educational and recreational purposes will help reach new consumers and generate more revenue for the State's wineries and tourism industry.
Celebrating New Jersey's wine industry through the observance of "New Jersey Wine Week" is a pleasurable way to support the State's agricultural and tourism industries and contribute to the State's economy.
