Hammonton’s Tomasello Winery got its start in 1933, capitalizing on the end of Prohibition that was to come in December of that year. The family-owned business, now in its fourth generation, grew and thrived, enduring wartime economies, economic downturns and a changing global marketplace.

Then came 2020.

Like all businesses, the winery was faced with a new uncertainty, wondering what a global pandemic would mean to the company and its employees. Tastings, weddings and other events would be affected the most, but the winery has seen growth and success thanks to its early embrace of the possibilities of e-commerce and its work to pursue exporting with the help of grants received through the Office of Export Promotion New Jersey State Trade Expansion Program.

Owner Jack Tomasello estimated e-commerce sales are up some 37 percent since March, when New Jersey declared a public health emergency. Tomasello attributed the growth to both the circumstances - Americans are staying home more - and word of mouth thanks to wine blogs and wine educators spreading the word. Today, the company is shipping wine across the country, literally, entering the California, Oregon and Washington state markets thanks to its comprehensive website and online sales efforts.

The company already had a large mailing list, but increased website traffic and the availability of e-commerce has sustained the winery at a time when in-store and sales and outlet tastings saw significant reductions thanks to capacity reductions during the pandemic.

“My advice (to businesses) is to get more involved with e-commerce,” Tomasello said, calling e-commerce a "lifeline." “Those that didn’t jump on it, they’re jumping on now. They have to,” Tomasello said.