working dog winery

Stopped here on a whim while meeting up with some friends. The atmosphere was lively and seems like a nice place to spend an afternoon or evening. I went strictly to taste in order to make a purchase for an evening with friends so the $5 charge at the door did seem a little high as most wineries offer free tastings. The staff I encountered was friendly, the wines were ok. I ended up liking the blueberry wine the best. They had some live music playing in a larger room. I would suggest they lose the $5 tasting fee for those who are just stopping in to make a purchase.

We started out on the holiday wine trail in NJ. You visit each winery and the give you an ornament for free. Of course at each winery my husband and I did a wine tasting. We got the the working dog winery and we were shocked that we had to pay a 5.00 cover charge fee per person. just to walk in the door. We literally were there for 5 minutes. We have been at this winery before but today was our last time.

Located off exit 7A of NJ Turnpike, a few other wineries nearby; Jackson Outlets about 20 minutes away, combine a lil shopping with some wine tasting. Wines are good, nice tasting room, not too small, not too large. Prices are good.

My wife and I have visited Silver Decoy (now named 'Working Dog') probably 10 times or so, as we live close by. It's a delightful picnic setting, with tables on a patio under ceiling fans and a nice view down the hill to the vineyards and the horse farm beyond. Worth buying a chilled bottle of rose and enjoying it on the patio or while strolling through the vineyard. A couple things visitors should keep in mind. The quality of the wines is, well, not high, at least not by California standards, where we've sampled many wineries. And, this being New Jersey I suppose, prices seem high relative to quality, in the $15-$25 a bottle range. I think the price points are about $4-5 higher than they should be. The Syrah is a nice surprise, balanced and fruity. The Cab Franc is a signature wine there and actually comes closest to high quality. (I tried some alongside a Cab Franc from the Bordeaux region and was impressed by the similarity.) One of the vineyard owners told me the climate in this area of New Jersey is quite parallel to the climate of Bordeaux, same days of sunlight and same amount of rain. Soils probably are quite different however. Tastings are $5 for five wines, and the pours are at best one ounce, which is a sip and not enough to get a full sense of taste. I think more should be poured. The net result of the price structure is that a visitor is paying $5 for the equivalent of one glass of wine, which is less than a bar might charge but for these wines, a bit high, perhaps even making a profit.

Off the beaten trail this winery was a surprise stop. In the middle of the county is a little farmhouse that's a winery. The day we were there the owner were manning the wine tastings. What great guys! The ugly duckling wine was our favorite.

Great wine in a relaxing, well maintained area. The fire was crackling, the wine was stocked and the staff was amazing. We have been here a few times before and will absolutely be back again. Pack a picnic lunch or some snacks and hang out with a bottle of wine. Just an all around great place to relax on a weekend afternoon with friends.

My niece recently got married and she had a beautiful wedding here in this fabulous setting. Fortunately the weather co-operated and it was a fabulous day. She had over 200 guests and everyone had a wonderful time. I was told that this Winery reminded a lot of people of the ones out in California! It's a great place for a wedding, special event or just a picnic! Oh, by the way, their wines are delicious!

We visited this place after a review of New Jersey based Wineries in the NY Times. We were quite impressed by this small winery (17 acres in production) and their wines. We went for their Wine tasting flight (8 wines + a nice wine glass keepsake). I tried 4 whites and 4 reds. I was quite pleased with their Traminette (white) and was even pleasantly surprised by their Cabernet Franc. The place is definitely worth a visit.

We stopped here because my niece is getting married here soon and we wanted to check it out. The setting of this winery is very special. I never realized that we had such a beautiful winery in our area. We sat on the verandah and sipped a few glasses of their delicious wine and even took a few bottles home with us. Next time we visit, we're going to bring a picnic lunch to go with the fabulous wine and view and of course, we are looking forward to the wedding in September!

We stopped at this winery first on our day out. We had fun tasting and we brought our own snacks and went out back to eat and sip wine. It was very peaceful and pretty. I could have sat there all day! Nice way to spend an afternoon!

I've visited Silver Decoy at many times over a couple of years and ALWAYS had a wonderful experience. The tasting/retail room is comfortable and the "pourers" are terrific. If you're cruising on the turnpike and need a break, this is a great diversion. Sip a glass of wine, stretch your legs and relax in an Adirondack chair--then buy a bottle for when you reach your destination! For those who are "all about the wine", I've visited about 10 NJ wineries and Silver Decoy wines are the best that Jersey has to offer. Their unoaked Chardonnay is excellent and their reds are very nice. I'm not a fan of sweet wines but for those who are, Silver Decoy will have something you like.

Great wine and a nice place to relax after a long week of work. My fiance and I met there after work, got a bottle of wine and sat out back in their Adirondack chairs listening to Jimmy Buffet. A excellent way to unwind after a long week of work!

You usually don't use the words great and NJ wine in the same sentence, but this place does it right. Have visited more than half the wineries in the state and rank Silver Decoy one of the best. Really cozy atmosphere, super friendly staff and a very nice selection of wines. All were very drinkable and affordable. Tasting of 8 wines is free but there is a $3 charge for a sample of three premium selections---a great deal and a fun afternoon!

We stopped in for a wine tasting when wine loving relatives were visiting. I was impressed with the scenic outdoor patio and the spacious room where groups of friends were drinking wine and having fun. A small free buffet was really good. And we loved their wine! Good after work or girlfriend get-together place.

Friendly, fun atmosphere. Partners put their heart and soul in a quality product. Keep up the good work, your putting New Jersey on the map.