A Princeton Wine Country Weekend: Vineyards, Dining and Historic Charm
Princeton is best known for its university, historic architecture and lively downtown. But it also makes an excellent base for exploring a part of New Jersey wine country that many visitors overlook.
Within a relatively short drive of Nassau Street, you can visit three wineries with distinctly different personalities: a family farm and orchard, an Italian-influenced vineyard and a hillside winery offering guided tastings, cabanas, dining and evening entertainment.
Make it a full weekend and there is no need to hurry. Begin with dinner in Princeton on Friday, spend Saturday exploring the wineries and return to Palmer Square for Sunday brunch and an afternoon downtown.
Friday Evening: Dinner in Princeton
Check into your hotel Friday afternoon and leave the car behind for the evening. Downtown Princeton is compact enough to explore on foot, with restaurants, bars and cafés clustered around Nassau Street and Palmer Square.
Mistral serves globally influenced small plates in a contemporary dining room just off Palmer Square. For a more elaborate evening, Elements offers a seasonal tasting-menu experience next door.
After dinner, stop for a drink at the Alchemist & Barrister, Princeton’s longtime tavern tucked down an alley off Witherspoon Street. Another option is the Dinky Bar & Kitchen, located in the historic former Princeton train station near McCarter Theatre.
Where to Stay
Two downtown hotels make it possible to walk to many of Princeton’s restaurants, shops and historic landmarks.
Graduate by Hilton Princeton occupies a prominent spot on Nassau Street. The hotel combines contemporary accommodations with design details inspired by Princeton University and the surrounding town.
The Nassau Inn offers a more traditional atmosphere in the center of Palmer Square. Its location makes it especially convenient for visitors who want to park the car and explore downtown on foot.
Saturday Morning: Breakfast on Nassau Street
Start Saturday at PJ’s Pancake House, a Nassau Street institution serving Princeton students, residents and visitors since 1962.
Settle into one of its distinctive wooden booths for pancakes, eggs, bacon or another substantial breakfast before heading into the countryside surrounding Princeton, Hopewell and Ringoes.
First Stop: Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery
Terhune Orchards introduces visitors to the agricultural landscape just beyond downtown Princeton.
The Mount family’s 250-acre farm includes orchards, fields, a farm store and a winery producing wines from estate-grown grapes and other fruits grown on the farm. The winery is generally open on Saturdays and Sundays, when visitors can sample wines in a casual farm setting.
Terhune’s combination of agriculture and winemaking makes it a natural beginning to the day and a reminder that this wine trail starts surprisingly close to downtown Princeton.
Second Stop: Hopewell Valley Vineyards
Continue west toward Pennington and Hopewell Valley Vineyards, where the Neri family’s Italian heritage influences both the wines and the relaxed character of the property.
Visitors can order wine by the glass or bottle, and flights may be available outside the busiest weekend periods. The winery regularly presents live music on Saturday afternoons, making it a pleasant place to enjoy the vineyard setting before continuing north toward Ringoes.
Check the current schedule before visiting, since weekend hours, entertainment and flight availability can vary.
Saturday Afternoon and Evening: Old York Cellars
The estate property features stunning views of the vineyard framed in the background by the Sourland Mountains, Old York Cellars winery offers an easy transition from afternoon wine tasting into Saturday dinner.
Visitors can reserve a guided wine tasting, settle in at a table or spend part of the afternoon in a private covered cabana. Alongside its award-winning New Jersey wines, Old York offers a Spanish-inspired menu featuring tapas, charcuterie and several chef-curated Wine & Dine experiences.
Depending on the weekend, the winery may also have live music, a pairing dinner or another special event.
On select Saturday nights, Old York Cellars presents its long-running Wine & Comedy show series. The evening combines nationally touring comedians with reserved table seating, award-winning wines and a full food menu available before and during the show. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performances begin at 8 p.m.
If comedy is not scheduled during your visit, reserve a Wine & Dine experience or enjoy dinner and wine overlooking the vineyard before returning to Princeton.
Explore guided tastings, cabanas, Wine & Dine experiences and upcoming comedy shows at Old York Cellars
Sunday Brunch at Agricola
After Saturday’s winery tour, spend Sunday back in Princeton.
Agricola is an especially good fit for this itinerary. Located on Witherspoon Street beside Palmer Square, the restaurant’s seasonal approach continues the weekend’s connection to local farms and agriculture.
The brunch menu includes dishes such as brioche French toast, carrot cake pancakes, short rib hash, steak and eggs, quiche and a Jersey pork roll breakfast sandwich. Sunday brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., although reservations are advisable during busy university and event weekends.
Mistral is another option for visitors looking for a more contemporary small-plate brunch.
Sunday Afternoon Around Palmer Square
After brunch, spend a few hours exploring Palmer Square and Nassau Street. Browse the shops, walk through the gates of Princeton University and take in the stone buildings, courtyards and historic streets surrounding the campus.
This slower Sunday provides a satisfying contrast to Saturday’s vineyard itinerary. It also leaves enough flexibility for a final coffee, some shopping or a leisurely walk before heading home.
Your Princeton Wine Weekend at a Glance
Driving times depend on traffic, and Saturday includes several wine stops. Designating a driver or arranging transportation in advance allows everyone to enjoy the itinerary responsibly.
Princeton brings together several experiences that rarely fit so neatly into one weekend: a walkable historic town, distinctive local wineries, vineyard dining and enough variety to make the trip feel like a genuine getaway without traveling far from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there wineries near Princeton, New Jersey?
Yes. Terhune Orchards is located in Princeton, while Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington and Old York Cellars in Ringoes are both within a relatively short drive of downtown Princeton.
Can you visit several Princeton-area wineries in one day?
Yes. Terhune Orchards, Hopewell Valley Vineyards and Old York Cellars can be combined into a Saturday itinerary. Hours, tasting availability and events vary, so visitors should check each winery’s current information before leaving.
Where can you have dinner at a winery near Princeton?
Old York Cellars offers Spanish-inspired tapas, charcuterie and chef-curated Wine & Dine experiences. On select Saturdays, visitors can also order from the winery’s food menu while attending a Wine & Comedy show.
Where should visitors have Sunday brunch in Princeton?
Agricola is a convenient choice beside Palmer Square, with a seasonal brunch menu and a location suited to exploring downtown Princeton afterward. Mistral also serves weekend brunch nearby.
Where should visitors stay for a Princeton wine weekend?
Graduate by Hilton Princeton and the Nassau Inn both place visitors within walking distance of downtown restaurants, shops, Palmer Square and Princeton University.
Photo Credits: Images sourced from the websites of Terhune Orchards, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Old York Cellars, Mistral, Dinky Bar & Kitchen, Alchemist & Barrister, Graduate by Hilton Princeton, Nassau Inn, PJ’s Pancake House, Agricola, Princeton University, and Palmer Square. All images remain the property of their respective copyright holders.
