A b o u t O u r W i n e

In 2022, Patrick Harney, a 30-year veteran of the wine industry, founded the Atlantic Wine Project. AWP began its journey with Bellview Winery, nestled in the Outer Coastal Plain AVA. 

By collaborating with growers Jim Quarella and Larry Coia, AWP focuses on sustainable viticulture. Their dedication to cultivating hybrid and resistant European varieties reflects the unique terroir and commitment to quality in every bottle. 

Our Story

H o w I t A l l B e g a n

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A thousand years ago, Cistercian monks shaped Burgundy’s vineyards by studying soil, climate, and vine behavior. Similarly, Jim Quarella and Larry Coia of Bellview Winery pioneered in New Jersey by understanding their region’s terroir, helping establish the Outer Coastal Plain AVA.

Through collaborations with Rutgers University and global research centers, they identified grape varieties perfectly suited to their climate, enabling sustainable cultivation with minimal chemical intervention and producing some of the region’s finest wines.

VINEYARD FIRST

T h e G r o w e r s ( O w n e r s )

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Crafting the Wine

W i n e m a k i n g a n d V i n i f i c a t i o n

Winemaker, David Gardner, shows discipline and restraint in the winery to ensure that the fruit takes center stage in the wines. His wines show an ability to harvest at peak levels of ripeness and acidity, a delicate hand with oak, and an intuitive palate when it comes to assembling blends. The adoption of a “less is more” philosophy in the winery and careful attention to assembling these blends can result in affordable, honest, pure, fruit-driven, lower-alcohol wines one might more likely find in a French bistro or Italian trattoria.

Winemaker, David Gardner, shows discipline and restraint in the winery to ensure that the fruit takes center stage in the wines. His wines show an ability to harvest at peak levels of ripeness and acidity, a delicate hand with oak, and an intuitive palate when it comes to assembling blends. The adoption of a “less is more” philosophy in the winery and careful attention to assembling these blends can result in affordable, honest, pure, fruit-driven, lower-alcohol wines one might more likely find in a French bistro or Italian trattoria.

Through the 140 million years of the Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods, the coastal plain was repeatedly submerged as worldwide sea levels rose and fell during global cycles of glaciation and melting. When the coastal plain was under the sea, sediments were washed down from the coastal lands into the sea and settled on the sea floor. 

The seas deposited deep layers of sands, silt, and clays that dominate the formations beneath the Outer Coastal Plain today. The last layer of sediment to be laid down in this way was the sand we call Cohansey Sand, deposited during the Miocene epoch. This soil is composed of very coarse quartz-dominated (“quartzose”) sand.

Layers of History

T h e S o i l

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Varieties of the Vineyard

G r a p e V a r i e t i e s

White:
AROMELLA-(2013) Cornell University, Geneva, NY. Cross of Traminette and Ravat 34. Cold hardy and mildew resistant. Aromatic, floral and Muscat-like. High acidity and low ph.

CAYUGA WHITE-(1972) Cornell University, Geneva, NY. Cross of Seyval Blanc and Shuyler. Cold hardy and mildew resistant. Versatile with citrus notes and good acidity. 

Red Varieties:
Blaufränkisch: Cold-hardy, low mildew, prefers sandy soils; deep purple, soft tannins, complex flavors. 
Cabernet Franc: Cold-hardy, ripens well in NJ; shows bouquet, Pinot-like complexity, soft tannins. 
Chambourcin: Cold-hardy, mildew-resistant; deep red, earthy aromas, soft tannins, great in blends.

Red Varieties:
Blaufränkisch: Cold-hardy, low mildew, prefers sandy soils; deep purple, soft tannins, complex flavors. 
Cabernet Franc: Cold-hardy, ripens well in NJ; shows bouquet, Pinot-like complexity, soft tannins. 
Chambourcin: Cold-hardy, mildew-resistant; deep red, earthy aromas, soft tannins, great in blends.

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White:
AROMELLA-(2013) Cornell University, Geneva, NY. Cross of Traminette and Ravat 34. Cold hardy and mildew resistant. Aromatic, floral and Muscat-like. High acidity and low ph.

CAYUGA WHITE-(1972) Cornell University, Geneva, NY. Cross of Seyval Blanc and Shuyler. Cold hardy and mildew resistant. Versatile with citrus notes and good acidity. 

Our Mission:
The Atlantic Wine Project aims to reduce the wine industry’s environmental impacts by promoting local consumption. The Greater Philadelphia, NJ, and NY markets import over 95% of their wine, consuming excessive transport energy. Local wine minimizes this impact.

Sustainability in the Vineyard and Winery: We focus on selecting grape varieties resistant to local cold and humidity, using minimal organic treatments. Integrated pest management and soil conservation practices are employed. At the winery, we use solar panels, LED lighting, fuel-efficient tractors, and maintain an arboretum and butterfly garden.

Reflecting Our Terroir

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

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