Thursday September 11, 2025
New Jersey and New Friendship
It all began with an email. Scott Donnini from Auburn Road Vineyards in New Jersey had discovered our island estate and simply wanted to connect. No agenda, no pitch, just curiosity and a shared love of wine. We couldn’t resist replying.
Soon, Scott and his wife Jules were on a video call with us, exploring La Mare Wine Estate virtually. They met our team, saw the vines, and swapped stories across the miles. It felt like catching up with old friends we hadn’t met yet.
From New Jersey to (Old) Jersey
After almost one year of organising Scott and Jules finally made it over to Jersey. It wasn’t an easy journey for them as they had to fly to Paris and then take the train to St Malo and board the ferry.
Fortunately, when they did arrive Jersey was looking her absolute best. The weather was glorious and the Estate looked stunning. We spent the whole day together.
A Jersey Vineyard Tour
Our Vineyard manager Andrew took them on a tour around our wildflower meadow and of course the grapes, Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc, Regent.
Our head winemaker Jordi shared how we care for our vines sustainably, adapting to the unique challenges of being Jersey’s only winery. Then came the tasting!
A Taste of Jerseys
We started with our Pet Nat sparkling wine from La Mare, bottled before fermentation is complete to form its bubbles, followed by Auburn Road’s Dry Rosé.
Next we sampled our Sainte Marie, a bright and fruity white blend of Seyval Blanc and Orion, and Auburn Road’s Barrel Reserve Chardonnay.
Turning to the reds, we poured our award-winning Bailiwick, a vibrant and floral red blend of Pinot Noir, Rondo, and Regent, together with Auburn Road’s Eidólon, a velvety red blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Chambourcin.
We finished with a pre-release tasting of our fortified apple cider and Auburn Road’s utterly delicious Lavender Vermouth. (It was so good that our Marketing Manager decided to take the rest of the bottle home!)
Afternoon Tea
After a long day of drinking wine, Scott and Jules enjoyed something quintessentially British and one of La Mare’s best-loved experiences, Afternoon Tea by the vines, complete with freshly baked scones, delicate sandwiches, and a little time to soak in the view.
Exploring the Island
We spent the most wonderful day together and are so grateful to Scott and Jules for making the long journey to our little island of Jersey. Later, we were lucky enough to join them for a quick dip in St Ouen’s Bay at high tide, watching the sun slip below the horizon. We can’t wait for the chance to return the visit and explore their corner of New Jersey very soon.
You can read Scott’s article in Edible Jersey here.
