PRINCETON, N.J. – Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy today hosted New Jersey wineries and presented the 2019 Governor’s Cups and Best of Show winners among New Jersey wineries. The event, which was held at Drumthwacket, featured winners that were selected from the 2019 Garden Wine Growers Association competition and judged by the Beverage Tasting Institute. Governor Murphy also designated November 11-17 as New Jersey Wine Week and presented a proclamation honoring the wine industry for being a growing contributor to the state’s economy.
“New Jersey’s burgeoning viticulture industry produces some of the finest wines in the world,” said Governor Murphy. “I am proud to celebrate these innovators and pioneers and award them for their hard work in cultivating this exciting industry in our state.”
“We are thrilled to host New Jersey’s best wineries at Drumthwacket for the second year in a row,” said First Lady Murphy. “We proudly serve only New Jersey wines at Drumthwacket and will continue to do so as our robust viticulture industry grows and thrives in our state.”
“New Jersey vintners continue to elevate our reputation for the sophisticated wines that are produced here in the Garden State,” said New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher. “This is an industry that proudly serves our state with their fabulous vineyards and their on-farm experience.”
Amalthea Cellars of Atco won the Governor’s Cup for Red Wine and the Best of Show overall in the competition with a score of 96 for their 2015 Reserve Merlot. It marked the second consecutive Best of Show in the Competition and Governor’s Cup for Amalthea as their 2015 Legend’s Europa Edition I received the award in 2018.
The Governor’s Cup for White Wine was awarded to Beneduce Vineyards of Pittstown for their 2017 Tuxedo Estate Grown White Pinot Noir, with a score of 94. Tomasello Winery of Hammonton received the Governor’s Cup for Dessert Wine for their Non-Vintage Blackberry Wine with a score of 95.
Other winners announced at the celebration include:
- Coda Rossa Winery, Franklinville – Best Hybrid Red Wine, 2016 Coeur d ’Est – 93 points – tie.
- William Heritage Winery, Mullica Hill – Best Hybrid Red Wine, 2017 Burn Pile Vineyard, Chambourcin – 93 points – tie.
- Bellview Winery, Landisville – Best Hybrid White Wine, 2018 Estate Bottled, Traminette – 89 points – tie
- Autumn Lake Winery, Williamstown – Best Hybrid White Wine, 2018 Estate Bottled, Traminette – 89 points – tie.
- Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown – Best Rosé Wine, 2018 Row’s End Estate Grown Dry Rosé – 88 points – tie.
- William Heritage Winery, Mullica Hill – Best Rosé Wine, 2018 Estate Grown Rosé – 88 points – tie.
- Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes – Best Fortified Wine 2015 Vat #24 Port – 94 points.
- William Heritage Winery, Mullica Hill – Best Sparkling Wine, 2018 Pét-Nat Rosé – 89 points.
- Salem Oak Vineyards, Pedricktown – Best Fruit Wine, 2017 Triple Twin Strawberry – 88 points – tie.
- Jessie Creek Winery, Cape May – Best Fruit Wine, Non-Vintage Dyer’s Creek Blanc Fruit Wine – 88 points – tie.
As one of the country’s top wine producers with 1.5 million gallons produced in 2016, New Jersey is home to more than 50 licensed wineries and has almost 2,000 acres of farmland dedicated to grapevine cultivation. New Jersey has four viticultural Regions: Outer Coastal Plain, Warren Hills, Central Delaware Valley, and the Cape May Peninsula.
There are more than 40 grape varieties now growing in the state, from Pinot Noir and Riesling in the North, to Italian varieties such as Sangiovese and Barbera in the South. New Jersey grows a wide range of vinifera vines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay to French American Hybrids.
New Jersey’s highly acclaimed wines have received high marks in national and international competitions such as the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
For a list of New Jersey wineries and regular events that take place at wineries throughout the state, go to www.newjerseywines.com.
–Office of Governor
