Outer Coastal Plain AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2007 2017 Amend |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | New Jersey |
| Other regions in New Jersey | Central Delaware Valley AVA, Warren Hills AVA |
| Sub-regions | Cape May Peninsula AVA |
| Growing season | 188-217 days |
| Climate region | Region III-IV |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 40 in (1,000 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Well drained sandy loam that derived from unconsolidated sediments |
| Total area | 2,255,400 acres (3,524 sq mi) 2017: +32,932 acres (51 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 750 acres (300 ha) |
| Grapes produced | Albarino, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cayuga. Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Fredonia, Ives Noir, Lemberger, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat Ottonel, Niagara, Petit Verdot, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Sangiovese, Seyval Blanc, Syrah/Shiraz, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, Traminette, Trebbiano, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles/Ravat, Viognier |
| No. of wineries | 33 |
Outer Coastal Plain is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in southernmost New Jersey. It was established on February 9, 2007 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by James Quarella of Bellview Winery, Frank Selak of Sylvin Winery, Larry Coia of Coia Vineyard and Dante Romanini of Panther Branch Vineyard on behalf of themselves and local vintners proposing a viticultural area in southeastern New Jersey known as “Outer Coastal Plain."
The 2.25 million acres (3,516 sq mi) wine appellation is roughly triangle-shaped and comprises the eastern and southernmost New Jersey regions. Outer Coastal Plain is one of five defined physiographic regions of New Jersey. The other regions are the Inner Coastal Plain, the Newark Basin Piedmont, the Highlands, and the Appalachian Valley and Ridge. Outer Coastal Plain includes the Atlantic coastline and the area known as the "Pinelands" or "Pine Barrens." It encompasses all of Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic, and Ocean Counties and portions of Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, and Monmouth Counties. The region is characterized by well-drained sandy or sandy loam soils of low to moderate fertility, and a relatively long growing season. The climate is moderated by the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. The region is in hardiness zones 6b, 7a, and 7b.
In 2017, Outer Coastal Plain was expanded approximately 32,932 acres (51 sq mi) to include all or portions of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties after the TTB reviewed the petition from John and Jane Giunco, owners of 4JG’s Orchards and Vineyards in Colts Neck, New Jersey. The viticultural area and the expansion does not lie within another viticultural area.
The 126,635 acres (198 sq mi) Cape May Peninsula viticultural area was established by the TTB in 2018 as a sub-appellation within the southernmost tip of Outer Coast Plain where its petition specified that the new AVA, bordered entirely by water and the New Jersey Pinelands, has its own unique terroir.