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Wine & Dine at the Grape Escape
Wine & Dine at the Grape Escape
Winery Tour, Presentation & Buffet Dinner
Join us for an enjoyable evening at The Grape Escape in Dayton, NJ. The event starts with a tour of the winery, followed by a presentation from owner Ed Ventura. He’ll walk us through the wine-making process—from grape selection and crushing to fermentation, pressing, and bottling.
Ed will also explain how different regions and seasons affect grape quality, and how choices like yeast and barrel type influence the final product. After that, he’ll explore the basics of wine tasting using all five senses. The evening wraps up with a buffet dinner, offering a chance to relax and enjoy good wine, food, and company.
Presented by CNJ IFT, in collaboration with the Middlesex County Department of Economic Development.
Speaker
Ed Ventura
Owner, Grape Escape
Ed Ventura is the owner of The Grape Escape, a hands-on wine-making school in Dayton, NJ.
After 23 years in the corporate financial services world and nearly 15 more as a consultant specializing in data governance, he purchased the winery.
His global work travels often included weekend volunteering at wineries, where he developed a deep appreciation for wine-making and built relationships with vintners and oenologists.
A cancelled consulting project in New Zealand became the turning point in his career. With no immediate work lined up, Ed began exploring business opportunities and discovered The Grape Escape.
Combining his passion for wine with his professional experience, he purchased the business in 2013. He now considers the Grape Escape his retirement venture—and the happiest chapter of his life.
Location
Schedule
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT
| 5 PM | Hor D’oeuvres & Networking |
| 6 PM | Presentation |
| 7 PM | Light Buffet Dinner |
Fees
Deadline to Register: Monday, September 1
| Members | $55 |
| Students, Unemployed, Retirees, Executive Board | $30* |
| Walk-Ins, Nonmembers | $60 |
*Discounted rate applies only to members with advance registration. Non-member students and retirees and all walk-ins pay the standard non-member rate of $60.