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150 Wines&Vines January 2015 wine industry news wine eAst Vance_Jan11.qxp 11/23/10 9:29 AM Page 1 e gg Harbor City, N.J.—A year ago, Atlan- tic City, N.J., had 12 casinos. Today, four have closed and another was scheduled to close at presstime. The tourists that once flocked to the casinos also visited nearby win- eries. But as casinos have opened in neighbor- ing states, tourism in Atlantic City has declined, possibly claiming a wine industry victim. New Jersey's oldest wine producer, Renault Winery, filed for bankruptcy Nov. 13. Located less than 20 miles west of Atlantic City in Egg Harbor City, N.J., Renault was founded in 1864. The current owner, Joseph P. Milza, pur- chased the winery in 1977 and added a 50- room hotel known as Tuscany House in 2001; Vineyard Golf, an 18-hole championship golf course, opened in 2004. The property was scheduled to be sold at a sheriff 's auction, but the sale was canceled when the business filed for Chapter 11 bank- ruptcy protection in Camden, N.J. Milza plans to keep the winery and resort open while the company's finances are reorganized. Ocean- First Bank in Toms River, N.J., has a $7.9 mil- lion mortgage on the property and foreclosed on Renault. The winery's chief operating officer, Dennis Del Vecchio, commented, "We have been here for 150 years, and our plan will ensure us being here long into the future. We're not looking to sell the place. We're looking to continue the legacy here." Renault Winery was founded by Louis Nich- olas Renault, a "master vintner" from Rheims, France, who came to the United States after phylloxera devastated French vineyards. After learning about native American grapes that had a natural resistance to certain diseases and pests, Renault moved to New Jersey in 1864, purchased land near Egg Harbor and planted native grapes varieties such as Ives and Ca- tawba. He introduced his New Jersey Cham- pagne by 1870, and the winery grew to become the nation's largest producer of sparkling wine. In the late 19th century, Egg Harbor was known as "Wine City." The winery's current owner, Joseph P. Milza, a local newspaper owner and publisher, pur- chased the property in 1977. Because the pro- duction of sparkling wine at Renault dates back to the 19th century, the winery can continue to use "Champagne" on its labels. The winery sells both an American Champagne and a popu- lar Blueberry Champagne. According to Wines Vines Analytics, Renault Winery has 35 acres of vineyard and produces 12,500 cases of wine. —Linda Jones McKee Oldest N.J. Winery Files Bankruptcy