Hopewell Valley Vineyards hosts corporate events, rehearsal dinners, showers, birthdays, reunions and weddings in three tasting rooms and a seasonal 40-by-80-foot tent. The family winery is at 46 Yard Road in Pennington, in Hopewell Township, New Jersey, and it has hosted more than 1,000 private events.
Seminars and company events
Companies use the winery for team dinners, client evenings and off-site gatherings. The Upper Tasting Room has a portable projector and screen, and the Lower Tasting Room has a built-in screen and projector, so a short presentation can open a dinner or a tasting. Wine service is central to every event, and wine purchase minimums apply. The winery closes to the public on some dates for private events, and the event coordinator arranges venue tours with the owner, Violetta Neri.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers and anniversaries are booked on site. From May through October, a pole tent stands among the vines, gardens and fields. A tented event must also reserve an indoor space for exclusive use, so guests have a room to move into if the weather turns. Professional or posed photography, including in wedding attire, requires prior approval from the owners.
Rooms and capacities
The Upper Tasting Room has a vaulted ceiling, skylights and a cast-iron stove, and opens onto a covered deck facing the vineyards to the northwest, the winery's sunset spot. The Tank Room is an industrial space with eight stainless steel tanks holding about 18,000 gallons of wine and a bar top, linked to the main building by a covered archway. The Lower Tasting Room, renovated in 2009, is the main room for gatherings, with a stage, a grand piano, stage lighting, a copper-top bar, a brick oven and access to the wine cellar. The outdoor tent measures 40 by 80 feet. The official site does not publish guest counts per room, so ask the event coordinator for figures.
Catering
The winery caters events in-house at any scale, with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and American appetizers, and its brick oven turns out pizza for public visitors. Outside caterers can also work events, with a tour required for companies new to the venue, and the winery recommends Under the Moon Café and Brite Tyme Catering. When the winery caters, only outside desserts are allowed. Outside alcohol must come through the winery's exclusive liquor vendor. The winery does not rent the facility on its own without its services.
History and setting
The family behind the winery brings three generations of Tuscan winemaking to Hopewell Valley. The farm was at the center of a 2009 Right to Farm hearing that affected vineyards across New Jersey. Public programming includes live music, brunch pop-ups and seasonal festivals.
Getting there
The winery is at 46 Yard Road, Pennington, NJ 08534, in Mercer County. There is ample parking on site, including room for RVs during the visit, which helps for groups arriving by car or minibus.
