WINE with us

BY DREW MATSON

“Iwould rather die of thirst than drink a single sip from a cup of mediocrity.”

These are the bold words from Jack Kennedy, owner of Kennedy Cellars Winery and School of Wine located at 839 13th Street in Hammonton. It has been said for time immemorial that fortune favors the bold, and in this case, certainly favors Jack and his team at Kennedy Cellars, as they have developed something truly special.

The winery’s entrance can be found on a rural stretch of 13th Street, easily spotted as it is flanked by a pair of golden please see WINE, page 12

MANNINO’S

launching pad for showcasing her skills to a large crowd. “In 2014, I created the business with my husband,” says Mannino Tomasello. “I did food trucks and private parties,” she recalled of her mobile venture that literally opened the doors to her storefront located on 220 Bellevue Avenue. Events include Italian festivals, weddings and birthdays. She can also be found at many wineries on the east coast. Feeding the families of Hammonton is a pleasant callback to the restaurant business Mannino Tomasello has known since childhood. It’s one thing to have it, but another to have her very own family assist with the day-to-day operations. “My daughters help in the kitchen and with events,” says Mannino Tomasello, “they’re also on the phones,” she added, proud to implement her kids the same way her father did with her. Despite cannolis being the main pastry at Mannino’s Cannoli Express, customers would be delighted to know they aren’t limited to just that. Cookies such as Italian shortbread, chocolate chip, lemon ricotta and peanut butter kiss are available to warm up winter nights. Eight different flavors of gelatos, cakes and even macarons are included, flavors include caramel, raspberry and chocolate. When it comes to cannolis, a wide range of options await customers. All shells are imported from Sicily. “Original chocolate chip is the most popular,” reveals Mannino Tomasello. An item that can be found yearly, much like Pistachio & Birthday Cake. A cannoli with almonds on fresh pistachios folded into vanilla ricotta and dusted at the end of the shells. It’s hard to work around food and not have a favorite. Mannino Tomasello is no different than most cooks when it comes to that.

“Nutella is my favorite,” she says. “The perfect hazelnut spread mixed into vanilla ricotta,” the website describes the cannoli she enjoys most. The winter exclusive cannolis are about as tasty as the ones available during spring, summer and fall and make the winter that much more interesting for customers eager to get their hands on these pastries. “Mint chocolate chip & Amarena Cherry are the most popular,” says Mannino Tomasello. This cannoli is sold between November and February and leaves many smiles on custom- ers’ faces. When February hits, it signifies the essence of love. For Hammonton residents who have eaten at the store, that love transfers over to a Valentine’s Day exclusive treat—a fresh strawberry dip cannoli. A perfect way to warm up this winter.

From food trucks and trailers in the South Jersey region to a prosperous storefront in Hammonton, Gabriella Mannino Tomasello’s family business can be considered the cannoli capital of New Jersey. Those looking for delicious, seasonal, Italian treats of various flavors will be excited by the options that await them this winter. Whether there’s a taste for cookies or the popular mint chocolate chip & Amarena Cherry cannoli. “We’re one of a kind,” says Mannino Tomasello, “we’re a destination for a lot of people in Hammonton,” she says when recalling the importance of Mannino’s Cannoli Express. As always, she welcomes new faces interested in seeing what all the fuss is about.  bull statues. Beyond the long driveway, visitors are greeted with the sight of seven acres of blueberry fields with parking in front of the tasting room and school buildings. Inside the tasting room awaits an inviting atmosphere that is both thoughtfully rustic and comfortably cozy.

Behind the tasting room is the production area that houses several 1,000 liter tanks, imported from Italy, all temperature controlled by an impressive custom glycol chiller setup that was fabricated in-house. The other side of the room is occupied by large wooden barrels, all resting on their side, stacked from floor to ceiling while the liquid inside matures.

The tasting room and production areas are great, but how is the wine? Simply: unique and remarkable. Jack has sought out the perfect grapes locally and from around the world to produce his visions in Hammonton. Their blueberry wine is bursting with berry flavor that is harvested from the surrounding fields. An employee from the winery accurately described the blueberry as, “nice and articulate in the front, a lot of acidity, bloomin’-boomin’… don’t want it to be candy sweet… we want that fruit to deliver.” continued from page 8 not 2004. was “teaching” his

Coming soon is a Moscato that swims on the palete, with just a touch of sweet, to create harmony in your mouth. A heavy favorite is a white pinotage made from South African dark red grapes that have all the tannins stripped out, and pours as a white wine. It is a red wine made white, and never done before. The concept is fascinating but more importantly the taste is incomparable.

The entire enterprise of Kennedy Cellars and the School of Wine would not have happened if it wasn’t for a horrific accident in 2004. Jack was “teaching” his brother-in-law how to properly ride a dirt bike in his home town of Deptford when he went headover-handlebars. A result of the wreck was a severed artery, and eight days later Jack suffered three strokes. He was admitted into an intensive care unit, and upon discharge was told he would never be able to do simple tasks that most take for granted such as tie his shoes, please see WINE, page 13 drive, or even walk. Thankfully that is not the case today, and Jack is able to live life with appreciation to have those abilities back. However, during his recovery a serious blood clot was discovered, and doctors were concerned about increasing any medication to lower blood pressure as it would likely lead to organ failure. A neurologist wrote a prescription instructing Jack to have a glass of wine every night as a natural remedy to lower his blood pressure. Jack expressed, “had I not had the accident, had I not almost died, and had he not written the prescription, none of this would have happened.” the they their New

This prescription was taken with earnestness and began his exploration into the world of wine, which eventually led to Jack becoming a student at the Pinto School of Wine. An opportunity arose to purchase the Pinto School, and Jack approached those involved with the school with a bigger vision. This vision was to keep the school running but also open a retail winery with the best grapes from around the world.

With everyone on board, the long road to realizing this dream began. For four years they could only operate the school while navigating the arduous process of gaining various approvals through all required agencies. The journey was worth it, for the two years the winery has been in operation they have blown away all internal expectations. Last year Kennedy Cellars produced 63,000 bottles of wine, and this year they plan on almost doubling their production to 100,000 bottles, maxing out their existing capacity. Aside from the tasting room, you can currently purchase their wines from 18 restaurants in New Jersey. For a full listing of supporting retail outlets go to kennedycellarswine.com.

If you visit the winery today you’ll be welcomed by friendly staff and delighted customers. When asked to describe Kennedy Cellars, one such customer replied with a smile and, “great wine, great people.” you’ll be welcomed by friendly staff and

The Kennedy Cellars mission statement is, “to build relationships that reciprocate value, gratitude, and appreciation in an environment that is authentic, genuine, and sincere. That is our mission, our meaningful purpose, it’s how we serve our customers but also how we treat each other.” This approach not only brings a great product to New Jersey, but is a point of pride for the city of Hammonton.  reciprocate value, gratitude, sincere.