Long Beach Island Region of the Jersey Shore Uncorked Summer with First Ever Wine Festival

May 24, 2012 - PRLog -- “The spirit of summer is always here on LBI” declared NJ Division of Travel and Tourism Executive Director Grace Hanlon as along with Congressman Jon Ruynan, 9th District Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove, Ship Bottom Councilmen, representatives from the US Army, ReClam the Bay and the Long Beach Island Region DMO as the ribbon was cut Saturday morning on the 17th Street Beach in Ship Bottom. Keeping the anxious beach goers occupied prior to the ribbon cutting,  were several classic cars from the Vintage Automobile Museum, Buster from the Lakewood Blue Claws, Sprinkles the Clown, The Art House Gallery, Tuckerton Seaport, Operation Jersey Shore Vacation, Van Duessen from B98.5 and the Lighthouse International Film Festival.  On the beach Island Surf & Sail and LBI Eventz had surfing, kiting and paddle board demos.

The rest of the of the weekend it was all about the first LBI wine festival, Pour into Summer Wine Festival at the  Taylor Avenue Ball field, behind Bay Village in Beach Haven This open air festival featured wine tasting of more than 250 NJ wines,  a chic stemless souvenir wine glass, live music  and entertainment along with delicious local picnic items for purchase from local eateries and chamber members Bistro 14, The Gables, The Maine Course, Country Kettle, Crust & Crumb Bakery, Chicken or the Egg,  and Carmen’s. The NJ Wineries selling by the bottle or case as well as sampling include Plagido’s Winery, DiMatteo Vineyard, Renault Winery, Tomasello Winery, Coda Rossa Winery, Cream Ridge Winery, Auburn Road Vineyard, Wagonhouse Winery, Amalthea Cellars and the Sharrott Winery.

“We would like to thank everyone involved as we expand this important pre Memorial Day Weekend in our region,” stated Lori Pepenella, Destination Marketing Director of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, “It was a pleasure working with both the municipalities of Ship Bottom and Beach Haven along with the business and non profits from across our community to build this weekend, add the wonderful New Jersey Wineries and how could we not soar!”.  Special thanks to Councilman Bob Keeler of Beach Haven, GPS Events Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Company 46, Charlie Brandt of ReClam the Bay, Ocean Tent, Atlantic City Electric and Lew Richards of Crust & Crumb Bakery for the extra attention they gave to support this weekend.

For more information on upcoming events happening this summer, contact the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce at 609 494 7211, 265 West Ninth Street Ship Bottom or online at www.visitLBIregion.com .