Louis Renault sets sail for the New World with hopes of saving his vines and establishing a vineyard free of the insect that had ravished the vines of Western Europe. Renault’s first attempt at an American vineyard took place in California. To his dismay, phylloxera also destroyed the root systems of his Californian grapes. It was then that Renault learned of an indigenous American grape that grew on the East Coast, a grape with a natural resistance to certain pests and disease.

Renault purchases land in the Egg Harbor area, where this miracle grape was rumored to thrive. Finding a climate and soil similar to that which he knew in France, Renault establishes his own vineyard.

Renault introduces his New Jersey Champagne. Renault Winery has quickly gained notoriety, winning prizes for its wines and becoming the largest distributor of champagne in the United States. This winery’s success even earned Egg Harbor the moniker of “Wine City.”

John D’Agostino and family buys the winery to operate during the fourteen years of Prohibition under a special government permit. This permit allowed the production of wines for religious and medicinal purposes. Renault Wine Tonic, which had an alcoholic content of 22 percent, became the chief product and was sold in drug stores throughout the nation.

John’s sister Maria assumes responsibility for Renault after her brothers passing. Having a talent for design, she made a showplace of the old winery by building the current chateau style hospitality house.

Maria adds the Wine Glass Museum to display her impressive collection of wine glass art, with pieces that date back as far as the thirteenth century.

Johnny Carson serves as the spokesperson for Renault, who is for the largest distributor of champagne in America at the time.

The property opened its first gourmet restaurant in one of the winery buildings.

Culinary & Wedding Legacy Launched. The property becomes increasingly more popular for weddings.

Tuscany House Hotel opens on the Renault Winery Property, fit with a new restaurant.

The Vineyards golf course area is opened for the first time.

Vivâmee Hospitality acquires the property from Ocean First Bank and begins to make instrumental changes to the revitalization of the Renault Winery property.