Going Places with Dina Guzzardo
The Christmas events just keep on coming in South Jersey, with another family-focused event beginning at Renault Winery (72 North Bremen Avenue Egg Harbor City, 08215) on Thursday, November 26, and continuing through February. The Vintner Wonderland celebrates a successful harvest with ice skating, great wine, delicious food, local artisans, and live entertainment.
This year’s “Vintner Rink” has been enlarged and improved. The rink will be open daily for skaters of all ages and abilities. If you are an avid skater and love being on the ice, there are Season Passes and Family 4-Packs on sale now at an early bird rate. Individual tickets will also be on sale soon starting at $7 for kids 10-years-old and under, and $10 for adults. Skate rental is $12, but you can bring your own skates if you have them.
Experience the new winter menu at Renault’s Champagne Patio Garden where the live entertainment will take place, or in the Tasting Room for a more intimate experience. There are a wide range of perfectly mixed cocktails and a selection of sweets from the new café. Food will be available Monday through Wednesday from 12:00 to 7:00 pm, and from Thursday to Sunday from 12:00 to 9:00 pm. The bar closes at 10:00 pm on Thursdays, and at 2:00 am from Friday to Sunday. Reservations are highly recommended and can be placed through OpenTable after following this link: https://www.renaultwinery.com/vintner-wonderland/.
There are also several other unique dining experiences at the Vintner Wonderland. The Fire Pit Experience includes 2 hours of fine dining and live entertainment for up to 8 people. There are two options available: Stage Fire Pit seating, ideal for enjoying the live entertainment from Friday to Sunday, and Patio Fire Pit seating, ideal for taking in the breathtaking Renault Winery setting with views of the pond as well as the live entertainment. Food and beverage service will be available throughout. The cost of this experience is $125. While it may seem expensive, the cost is highly reasonable when split between 4 couples. Another option is the unique Champagne Bubble-Igloo Experience. Up to 6 people can share this intimate and unforgettable experience in the Champagne Bubble-Igloo, perfect for cozying up with friends or family after exploring the Vintner Wonderland. The Champagne Bubble-Igloo Experience costs $150 for 2 hours. There is also the Cabana Experience, which is perfect for first-class views of the Vintner Wonderland. Up to 6 guests can experience this for 2 hours for $175. Finally, the Rink-Side Fire Pit Experience is perfect for those who want a base camp for their ice skating. Although table service is not available, guests can purchase food and beverages from the various satellite village shops. This experience is only $125 for 2 hours and up to 8 guests. However, please note that ice skating tickets are not included in the price. To book one of these experiences, head to the following website: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/renaultwinery/items/?flow=650418&full-items=yes.
The Vintner Village will feature regional and local craft vendors and artists selling their goods, and Renault Winery will also be selling their merchandise. The Vintner Village will only be open Friday (3:00 – 8:00 pm), Saturday (11:00 am – 8:00 pm), and Sunday (11:00 am – 7:00 pm). However, it will be open 7 days a week from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm from December 20 through January 2 for holiday shopping.
There is an extensive event calendar this winter, which you can enjoy from the Champagne Patio Garden or the Tasting room. My top picks include Stonewood, a female-driven, guitar-fueled, high-energy country band, on December 12, and the Greg Farnese Christmas Quartet on December 24 (Christmas Eve) to ignite that Christmas spirit.
Of course, Christmas is a time for giving. The Festival of Trees will feature a forest of holiday trees which will be displayed throughout the winery and subsequently auctioned off at the Festival of Trees Gala on December 9. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Community Food Bank of New Jersey to ensure everybody has access to food during this holiday season.
Finally, if you are interested in making a more memorable experience, I highly recommend an overnight stay at the Chateau Renault hotel. Guests will be able to fully experience the festival and explore the entirety of Renault Winery’s stunning grounds with an unforgettable stay at this gorgeous hotel.
Best of all, parking and entry are both completely free! With the event running until February, there are plenty of opportunities to make your way there. However, booking is highly recommended for most activities, especially on the build-up to Christmas.
Dina Guzzardo is the President and Executive Promoter of Dina Media Group LLC. Dina Media Group is an innovative cutting edge event production and marketing company that produces and promotes large events as well as a talent agency that manages some incredible talent.www.dinamediagroup.com
