Grape Expectations

I've been making wine at Grape Expectations in Bridgewater, NJ, for several years, and it's been an incredible journey. Introduced to me by a family member, I look forward to each vintage, and this place has become a cherished part of my wine-making experience. The staff at Grape Expectations are not just knowledgeable but passionate and eager to assist at every step of the process. Their guidance and expertise have been invaluable in helping me craft eight different varieties of wine, each one turning out beautifully. The quality of wine I've been able to produce here is remarkable, and each variety drinks wonderfully, boasting its own unique character and flavor. What makes Grape Expectations stand out is their commitment to combining the art and science of wine-making, ensuring that even beginners like myself can produce wines to be proud of. If you're looking to dive into the world of wine-making or if you're an experienced vintner, Grape Expectations in Bridgewater is the place to be. Highly recommended for anyone who loves wine and is curious about creating their own!

Great place to make your own wine. Large variety of grapes to choose from every season. It is a very friendly atmosphere throughout the whole process starting from the Open Houses where you select the wine you want to make that season, the Tap The Barrel events where you taste the progress of your wine (and can get in on open barrels), to the end of the season Customer Appreciation event. We've been making wine there for almost 15 years and love that we can re-use our bottles every year. It is also a great place to make small "party-favor" wine for weddings, anniversaries, or other special events

Great Owners, Delicious Wine!! We bottled wine as favors for my daughters wedding, it was great!

Our Hosts George and Jim really took the time to explain the process of making wine, and the subtle differences between the choices of wines available to make. Can't wait to get started making my own wine.

I love grape expectations. My family and I just bottled our 14th year. We love the people, they are all very friendly. Wouldn't go anywhere else, ever.

Always an excellent time making wine with George, Lisa and the Gang. They are the best and this is the best place to make your wine!

Great place to make your own wine! Owner is very friendly and get to try the wine ahead of time.

Spent the whole day there today for barrel tapping. Love the folks who own it and the whole staff! ! Plus the wine is great!!

Its Monday- made a long trip- It was closed. No mention on web sight- Phone only takes messages. Doesnt open till Wednesday. No signs on the door.

I have been making wine with a group of friends for almost 10 years. Was looking for a place in NJ that would produce good wine in a friendly, comfortable environment. George and Lisa provide that at Grape Expectations. We plan to be a new customer this year!

Lisa, George and the entire staff are amazing. They make the wine-making proceed fun and very easy. They are also very customer focused and insure that the final product is awesome. Can't wait for the next wine tasting!!!! Thank you GE staff.

Everything about this place is wonderful. The atmosphere is great for a romantic evening or a girl's night out. I came here with my husband, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. :) We chose to eat in the slightly moodier cellar instead of the bright and airy garden. The service was excellent. The server was on top of things without being around too much. She had great suggestions for pairings. The wine was top notch with the pricing not too high. We tried several of the toasty bites, and each one was perfectly toasted with nice melty cheese and a fun kick with the jam/jelly/flavor inside. The charcuterie trays were generously portioned, and everything was fresh and delicious. I HIGHLY recommend.

My first experience with Grape Expectations was about 8 years ago. I was with a group of 6 couples and we had a great time. The owners then made sure that we understood the wine that we were selecting and that we developed an appreciation for the winemaking process. Fast forward to 2016 and under new ownership, the atmosphere is even better. The owner, George, is knowledgeable and does not make you feel inferior or intimidated. He excels at explaining the nuances of the wines that you taste and makes it fun. He is there to help you educate your pallet and appreciate the science behind good winemaking - it is both an art and a science. You come away knowing a bit more than when you walked in. This place makes you feel like family the moment you walk through the door. The original group that I started with has splintered off and involved other groups. This is the tell a friend method if ever there was one. Typically, you only involve your friends and family when you enjoy the experience. That's the way it should be. Imagine a place where the I Love Lucy photo is on the wall from the stomping grapes episode, where old world Italian music is playing, where you are surrounded by food, friends and family, and where you can make wine or watch others make wine - this is how life should be every day! Finally, I read a review back in 2014 of someone that did not have a great experience - that's unfortunate. This place has nothing but a great heart and sense of humility that makes you appreciate going even more. Don't believe me, go for yourself and experience a friendly, warm and fun-filled atmosphere when making wine. God bless.

Great experience! George was so helpful and great to work with. The wine is great and it's so nice to meet all the other people.

Jimbo is an excellent host and knows his stuff Don't get why there are bad reviews as he is easy going, helpful and wants you to enjoy the experience. It's your own fault if you don't. Ask him to try the port... wow

George is the man. Highly recommend. "Grape" wine! Don't pass on this gem while in town.

We had a great day here, great wine and a great experience! George was fantastic. The wine is delicious and it was a really fun day.

If I could give them zero stars i would. We had such an unfortunate experience here. Went to try out a few wines so that we could select one to bottle and cork as our wedding favor. George explained to us that a quarter barrel would give us 144 375 ml bottles. We told him we needed 160 to which he told us not to worry that they would take care of the extra bottles for us, that they had extra wine they could supplement with. They provided us with an itemized bill on that day. Good thing I called to confirm our bottling appointment because they had the wrong sized bottles ordered. I also asked them to confirm what year the wine we were purchasing was to have our labels made and they told us 2013. On the day of the bottling we showed up and George said, "we are actually going to give you 40 extra bottles, so you will have about 190 but the extra won't be the same wine". When we went to pay they added an extra $500 to our bill!!! Keep in mind we had already gotten an itemized bill/estimate when we had gone there originally! So we were charged $500 extra for 190 bottles when we only needed 160 bottles. In addition it wasn't even the same wine we had selected. Absolutely unacceptable. And the cherry on top of the cake the wine was a 2012 so all of our labels were wrong!!! We went back and forth with them for 2 months and they finally refunded us $150 but even with that we were still overcharged $350 and for a wine we did not want! Much aggravation and disappointment. Don't go here

Now for the other side of winemaking...For the past 5 years, I have been making homemade wine with my family and friends at Grape Expectations in Bridgewater. From the moment we walked through the door, we were treated like family. Everyone there took the time to tell us about the process of wine making. The staff took us around on a tour and answered all of our questions; especially mine! I have never held back a question or comment when I did not agree or like something. Over the last couple of years, I've proudly earned my nickname...P.I.T.A. Although we do joke around a lot, the owners and staff are professional and keep everyone safe when it comes to making wine. After my first year, I was hooked! Not only is it a great way to make friends, but it is also a great way to create an amazing wine without the mess and hassle of making it in your home. All in all the wine making process is fun and in the end, you create a top notch wine to enjoy and share. If you have ever been thinking of trying your hand at making wine, be sure to visit Grape Expectations in Bridgewater. Who knows... you may even just find that you really are a winemaker at heart!