Rutgers Historian Angus Gillespie Is Telling a New Story About New Jersey Wineries
December 16, 2025
American Studies Professor Angus Gillespie, an expert in folklore who taught at Rutgers for more than 50 years, has a new passion: Promoting New Jersey’s growing wine industry and the university’s efforts to bolster its success.
Several years ago, Gillespie and his wife, Rowena, were strolling Lambertville’s Bridge Street when he found a tourism brochure extolling New Jersey’s 60 wineries.
“Who knew?’’ recalled a surprised Gillespie, who saw one, Angelico Winery, was nearby, prompting the couple to take a serendipitous detour to the “charming…small scale, friendly’’ place.
Gillespie was quickly hooked on a burgeoning hobby he wanted to share with others.