Stalled Ocean City Winery now looking to Somers Point for a new outlet

SOMERS POINT, N.J. — After a very unwelcome start in mainland Upper Township, the owners of Ocean City Winery, have a new plan to get the wine, cheekily branded for a dry Shore town, to consumers.

They want to sell the wine in Ocean City residents’ historic go-to place for alcohol: just over the bridge in Somers Point.

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Mike Halpern, co-owner of the winery, which replaced a Christmas tree farm on Bayaire Road in 2019, said that after years of fighting neighbors and municipal lawyers in Upper Township and Cape May County, and enduring multiple appeals and hearings before the state agricultural board, he is seeking to produce the wine in Upper Township, but sell it at the corner of Bay and Delaware Avenues in Somers Point.

Halpern said late Wednesday that the state had issued them a plenary license that permits wholesale production of the wine in Upper Township, but not retail sales or consumer tastings.

“It’s been really ugly,” Halpern said. “The township and neighborhood ... are not backing off.”

The Halperns’ original idea to have an 80-seat tasting room in Upper Township has been set aside. Neighbors have worried about noise, big events, traffic, and the impact of the fertilizer Halpern uses on the vineyard. Anything the Halperns proposed to assuage those concerns made little difference.

The previous plan also hinged in part on whether the Upper Township property was five acres, a number that was disputed by neighbors. The Inquirer sought comment Wednesday from Richard King, an attorney for the Upper Township neighbors, but had not heard back.

Their appeals stemming from the ruling by the state agricultural board approving a site plan that only included producing wine on the Upper Township land, and designated the property as a commercial farm, are continuing.

In Somers Point, the Halperns have purchased a property at 825 Bay Ave., across Delaware Avenue from the Anchorage Tavern, with a view of the bay across the street. They envision an outlet to sell their wine, plus 20 seats for people to drink the wine they’ve purchased. (Or, conveniently, can take it down the road to Smitty’s Clam Bar, a BYOB).

“No outside music, no staying open after dark,” Halpern said.

» READ MORE: The plan for an ‘Ocean City Winery’ hit a major snag in front of the county farm board

Halpern said he’s received a plenary winery license from the state which requires three acres and will allow him to produce the wine in Upper Township, where he and his wife, Robin, now grow grapes, and open the outlet in Somers Point.

Halpern says he’s in discussions with Somers Point officials. The location of the property is already in an area zoned for eating and drinking, so Halpern said he does not anticipate much local objection.

For now, he says he’s planning to use the main house on the property as an airbnb rental. The wine outlet would occupy “a very large garage” in the back, he said.

The plenary license will allow up to 15 similar outlets to sell the wine, he said.

“If we can make the model work, we’ll have more than one of these,” he said.