Princeton, N.J. — D&R Greenway Land Trust announces Wines for Preservation, in partnership with Old York Cellars of Ringoes, New Jersey. Three wines of the 2019 harvest are ready for purchase–a large percentage of each sale to benefit the land trust’s preservation and stewardship mission. The wine labels feature art by renowned local artist James Fiorentino, whose stunning landscapes come from the preserved lands of D&R Greenway Land Trust.
This official collaboration with a New Jersey vintner is fitting, due to D&R Greenway’s preservation of more than 8,000 acres of farmlands that contribute to New Jersey’s reputation as the Garden State. Old York Cellars is nestled in the Sourland Mountain area of central New Jersey, where D&R Greenway has preserved thousands of significant acres including its first preserved acre upon its founding thirty years ago. The land trust’s Sourlands successes ensure the health of a crucial watershed, essential in order to achieve excellent wines.
Old York Cellars’ Wines for Preservation are St. Michaels Red, Sourlands White and Goat Hill Rosé. Each label is a collector’s piece, presenting artwork of each of these three preserves. Artist James Fiorentino serves as Vice-Chair of D&R Greenway’s Board of Trustees. He generously donated the use of his artwork to create this series of charity wines to enable D&R Greenway’s preservation work.
Fiorentino’s vivid canvases celebrating nature are exhibited throughout the world and most recently in the land trust’s ca. 1900 barn, the Johnson Education Center in Princeton. His first one-man show on endangered NJ wildlife premiered at D&R Greenway and went on to a series of exhibitions including at Manhattan’s exclusive Salmagundi Club, of which James is a member. For his most recent exhibition, James filled the Marie L. Matthews Gallery at the land trust’s Johnson Education Center with portraits of the land trust’s unique nature preserves. It is from this exhibit that the artwork for the wine labels was chosen. The artist declares, “I am so very honored to have my artwork grace the bottles of Old York cellars wine, as I am a personal fan. D & R Greenway has a wonderful message to spread through the beauty of artwork and the pleasure of wine!”
“Bring the beauty of the outdoors in with these wines on your table!” invites Linda Mead, D&R Greenway President and CEO. “As we weather the current crisis, our region’s residents are appreciating daily walks on our preserves more than ever before. Through our partnership with Old York Cellars, you can return home after your walk to enjoy a glass of our red, white or rosé wine–its label depicting the actual site where you have just hiked. This partnership emphasizes the importance of preserved farmland, ensuring we can increasingly preserve and provide stewardship for more acres of scarce New Jersey land.”
David Wolin, owner of Old York Cellars, declares, “James Fiorentino’s paintings are a great pairing for our wines. Old York Cellars is proud to support D&R Greenway with the sale of each of these special edition bottles.”Framing scenic views of the Sourland Mountain range, Old York Cellars boasts twenty-five handsome acres of preserved farmland and thirteen acres of rolling vineyards. Planted in 1979, these vines were the first to produce wine under the New Jersey Farm Act of 1981. This legislation continues to facilitate New Jersey’s growth into a booming wine region in the 21st century. [80 Old York Road, Ringoes, NJ 08551 908.284.9463]
D&R Greenway wines — St. Michaels Red, Sourlands White and/or Goat Hill Rosé–may be bought, as singles for $25 each, or as sets, on the website. Old York Cellars have also designed a handsome gift-boxed set. The vintners will deliver in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
SELECTED PRESERVES:
St. Michaels Farm Preserve, on the former site of St. Michaels Orphanage, was established in 2010. Its grassroots funding campaign earned significant New York Times coverage. The preserve was recently expanded to 415 acres. Visitors enjoy more than six miles of trails, where there were to have been a thousand houses. Edible hedgerows, a vintage barn, a vernal pond supporting tadpoles and salamanders, grace the hilly domain. A wildflower meadow, to be planted in the footprint of the Orphanage that stood on this land for nearly a century, will be named for former Princeton Township Mayor, Phyllis Marchand – whose ceaseless support of D&R Greenway has been essential to the preservation of ever more crucial New Jersey landscape.
The Sourland Mountain region totals 60,000 mostly wooded acres, stretching from Lambertville to Somerville. The Sourlands Conservancy reminds that “All streams atop the mountain are headwaters, feeding most of the nineteen streams and rivers in the Sourland region, then flowing into two major watersheds, –the Delaware and Raritan Rivers. The forests of the Sourlands are inextricably connected and of crucial importance to the water resources of the Mountain. Contiguous forests, wetlands, floodplains and vernal pools protect the Mountain’s water quality and quantity.” This vibrant water ensures excellence in Old York Cellars wines. D&R Greenway Land Trust’s first preservation in the heart of the Sourlands has now achieved nearly 4,000 acres, treasured for varied trails, bountiful wildflowers, and vital bird species, in nesting season and in vital spring and fall migration.
Goat Hill Preserve – D&R Greenway spearheaded preservation of this spectacular vantage point, high above the Delaware River, just south of Lambertville. Now a State preserve, hikers on this trail are rewarded with stunning views of the river, rippling seemingly endlessly between verdant banks. General George Washington stood on the rocky promontory of Goat Hill in December 1776, checking to see if the Durham boats he had commandeered were effectively hidden from British eyes.
