Our Story

A celebration of winemaking excellence. A tradition of great wine experiences.

2021

Kennedy Cellars launches a new and enhanced tasting room and retail line of premium wines.

2020

Kennedy Cellars is approved to produce and sell retail wine. Kennedy Cellars’ retail division is launched. The winery and school are also remodeled to support an enhanced winemaking and purchase experience.

2019

Jack visits South Africa on a mission to discover the top grower of Pinotage grapes. Ron Lanza, winemaker for Lanza Winery and grower of Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 169, visits Kennedy Cellars. Jack selects Cabernet, Pinotage and Chardonnay as his signature varietals.

2018

Holly returns to South Africa to harvest and produce Pinotage at Beyerskloof Estate Winery in Stellenbosch under the tutelage of Anri Truter. Holly & Gretchen visit the vineyard in Breedekloof and meet with Louie, the vintner and our Pinotage grape partner.

2017

Jack sends Holly to South Africa to study the history & production of Pinotage wine. Holly connects with Gretchen van den Merwe and visits the vineyards where our grapes are sourced. Holly participates in two separate harvest internships at Cederberg Winery and Rupert & Rothschild.

2016

Inspired by the school's winemaking dream team, Jack presents his vision of purchasing the school and launching a premier retail winery that sources grapes from all over the world. The School of Wine at Kennedy Cellars is launched.

2012

Over the years, Jack's basement evolves into a winemaking laboratory. Having outgrown the space, Jack decides to begin making wine at Gino's School of Wine in Hammonton, NJ.

2006

Inspired by his first glass of South African Pinotage, Jack immediately falls in love with the varietal due to its unique smoky flavor and cherry finish.

2004

After suffering a severe accident, Jack's neurologist prescribed a daily glass of red wine to organically manage his blood pressure. He quickly became a wine enthusiast and started making premium wine in his basement.

Over the last several decades, Kennedy Cellars has emerged as the region’s premier winemaking school, teaching wine enthusiasts both the art and science of creating their own award-winning wines. As a student of the school, Jack Kennedy’s intense love for wine and winemaking grew into a lifelong passion. In 2016, he purchased the school and transformed it into a truly remarkable education experience.

Today, after years of perfecting the winemaking process and partnering with many of the world’s greatest vineyards and vintners, Kennedy Cellars is known as one of the region’s leading and most intimate wineries.

Kennedy Cellars is so much more than a winery. Whether you’re visiting our tasting room to sample some of our incredible wines, attending an exclusive event or enjoying one of our fun and informative winemaking classes, our team promises to deliver a memorable experience featuring the very best in hospitality.

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