Executive Director: Devon Perry
T: 856-761-9986
[email protected]
Media Contact: Segel Associates
T: 856-261-9983
[email protected]
GARDEN STATE WINERIES CELEBRATE NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR’S CUP 2024 WINNERS
Haddonfield, NJ (November 11, 2024) – Garden State Wine Growers Association – a coalition of 60+ New Jersey wineries and vineyards that support the Garden State’s wine industry through information, resources, and advocacy – joins New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy in heralding William Heritage Winery, located in Mullica Hill, as the winner of the Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) annual Governor’s Cup for the William Heritage 2023 Ice Cider. The wine was recognized as the best in the recent competition and the Best Dessert Wine, netting one of the three Governor’s Cups awarded. The wines were judged by the Beverage Testing Institute.
- William Heritage Winery was also awarded the Governor’s Cup for the Best White Vinifera Wine with its 2023 Limited Release, Chenin Blanc.
- Meadowbrook Winery in Oldwick won the Governor’s Cup for Best Red Vinifera Wine with its 2022 Reserve, Cabernet Franc.
Seven wines were honored at the annual competition, including:
- Governor’s Cup for Best in Show and Best New Jersey Dessert Wine 2024: William Heritage, Mullica Hill (2023 Ice Cider);
- Governor’s Cup for Best New Jersey Vinifera White Wine 2024: William Heritage, Mullica Hill (2023 Limited Release, Chenin Blanc);
- Governor’s Cup for the Best Red Vinifera Wine 2024: Meadowbrook Winery, Oldwick (2022 Reserve, Cabernet Franc);
- Best New Jersey Fortified Wine 2024: Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington (NV Estate Chocolate Porto Rosso)
- Best New Jersey Hybrid White Wine 2024: Working Dog Winery, Hightstown (2023 Estate, Traminette);
- Best New Jersey Hybrid Red Wine 2024: William Heritage, Mullica Hill (2022 Burn Pile Vineyard Reserve, Chambourcin);
- Best New Jersey Rosé Wine 2024: White Horse Winery, Hammonton (2023 Painted Estate Grown Rosé).
New Jersey is one of the top producers of wine in the country, having produced approximately 2 million gallons of wine across its over 60 licensed wineries.
QUOTE FROM NJ GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY: “Congratulations to New Jersey’s vibrant and expanding community of wine growers — you continue to raise the Garden State’s profile in the wine industry both nationally and internationally. I’m proud to celebrate the first New Jersey Wine Month and the largest-ever gathering of our wineries and vineyards,” said Governor Phil Murphy.
QUOTE FROM DEVON PERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GARDEN STATE WINE GROWERS ASSOCIATION: Executive Director Devon Perry noted that sharing the results of the New Jersey Wine Competition are the perfect opening to New Jersey Wine Month, celebrated from November 1 to 30. “Our state’s tourism economy has generated critical revenue driven in part by the New Jersey wine community. The Garden State’s farms include a significant amount of wine growing operations. These vineyards and wineries are travel and tourism destinations that showcase the agricultural heritage of the Garden State.
Perry continues, “The holiday season is the ideal time to enjoy New Jersey wines with family and friends. Whether you celebrate during New Jersey Wine Month, choose to embark on a Holiday Wine Trail, or enjoy world-class wines grown in the Garden State on any occasion, this is a wonderful reminder that there is so much to sip, savor, and enjoy in less than an hour’s drive from anywhere in the state. Cheers to New Jersey wine!”
New Jersey has four American Viticultural Areas suited for grape-growing, including the Central Delaware Valley AVA, the Warren Hills AVA, the Outer Coastal Plain AVA, and the Cape May Peninsula AVA.
Vineyards across New Jersey grow more than 80 grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Albarino, and Chardonnay. New Jersey’s wineries also produce a wide array of fruit wines.
New Jersey wines have received critical acclaim in national and international competitions, including the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. They’ve also garnered praise in major publications such as Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, and The Wine Advocate.
For a list of New Jersey wineries and regular events taking place at wineries and vineyards throughout the state, visit www.newjerseywines.com.
About Beverage Testing Institute
Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) was founded in 1981 as the first international wine competition in the United States, adding beer, spirits, cider, sake, mead and more to the repertoire in 1994. Using industry-leading methodology co-developed with Cornell University and a one-of-a-kind approach to trade focus groups and sensory panelist recruitment, BevTest’s evaluations are more than a competition. Beverage Testing Institute has become the most comprehensive and reliable source for alcohol beverage product testing and professional reviews in the world. The team at BevTest are proud to have partnered with the Garden State Wine Growers Association for the seventh year to both rigorously test with international standards and put a spotlight on the fine wines of New Jersey.
About Garden State Wine Growers Association
The Garden State Wine Growers Association is a non-profit organization of New Jersey-based wineries, vineyards, and allied businesses. It serves as a centralized information repository, resource, and clearing house for industry members and offers a unified voice advocating for issues important to the entire range of New Jersey winery and vineyard operations. Central to this mission are efforts toward branding, marketing, public relations, education, and legislation and regulation for the furtherance of the vineyard and wine industries in the Garden State. For more information, visit www.NewJerseyWines.com or the socials, including Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter).
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