A Votre Sante!
For BME Professor Kristen Labazzo, Home is Where the Winery Is
Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) Undergraduate Director and Associate Teaching Professor Kristen Labazzo and her husband, Tom Olson, are wine aficionados who have visited nearly all of New Jersey's more than 50 wineries over the years.
"When we saw that one of the wineries we followed was up for sale, we reached out to the realtor almost as a joke," she recalls. "But when we saw it also had a small kitchen—Tom is a chef by trade—and a five-bedroom house, it became more real."
The couple quickly moved to sell their North Jersey home and relocated to South Jersey late this summer. "We were convinced this was the right decision—and we were right."
A Well-Stocked Cellar
Their purchase of Salem Oak Vineyards included wine in stock and in tanks—Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cayuga, Vidal Blanc, and Concord—that they are currently selling. And their bartender offers flavorful sangrias as well.
According to Labazzo, while a late April frost destroyed many crops across the state, this year's smaller vineyard harbest will be used to augment their inventory.
Salem Oaks offers tastings. "Customers can purchase wine by the flight, glass, or bottle," Labazzo reports. "Our tasting room can seat over 100 people, and we have a beautiful outdoor area to enjoy a glass of wine with a view. It also hosts events, with a few already booked for fall. Customers also have the option to rent out the entire property if they wish to keep it private."
While the vineyard menu currently features small plates and a Sunday brunch, the longer-range plan is to expand the kitchen to be able to offer more options.
A Family Affair
The couple is working closely with the vineyard's former owners to ensure a smooth operational transition. "My husband—who honestly has a lot more experience in the service and food industry than I do, which aside from eating food is zero—is working the winery full time, and our older daughter is doing our social media," she reports. "I'm doing the paperwork and helping out in the tasting room as needed, but I still have a job at SoE that I love."
"It's not just about running the vineyard smoothly: they are adjusting to life in an 1890s farmhouse. "But we're having fun setting it up with a rustic farmhouse vibe."
A Dream Come True
Labazzo, who loves South Jersey, readily admits that she has always dreamed of living on a farm. "The pace down here is a little slower, everyone knows your name. The house across the street has a rooster and my husband drove a tractor for the first time. I wake up every day and look out onto a vineyard.
"I get to work with my husband and watch his amazing talent for cooking finally get the attention it deserves. And we own our own business. There's something comforting in that. To be your own boss, and all the hard work you put in is to build something of your dreams. I look around this property and still can't believe this is mine."
