Plagido’s Winery Wins “Winery of the Year” for 2nd Consecutive Year

Fox Hollow Vineyards, Terhune Orchards and Sharrott Winery Earn Governor’s Cup Awards in New Jersey Wine Competition

Plagido’s Winery of Hammonton earned Winery of the Year honors for the second consecutive year in the annual New Jersey Wine Competition, which is organized for the Garden State Wine Growers Association by Dr. Gary Pavlis of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. The competition, which was held in May, featured wines from 21 New Jersey wineries.

The Governor’s Cup for Best Grape wine went to Fox Hollow Vineyards of Holmdel for their 2014 Cabernet Franc, which also won Best Vinifera wine. Terhune Orchards of Princeton won the Governor’s Cup for fruit wine for their non-vintage Blueberry wine and Sharrott Winery of Blue Anchor took home the Governor’s Cup for Best Dessert wine for their 2013 Wicked Port, which also won for Best Hybrid wine.

The Winery of the Year, Governor’s Cup and Best in Class awards were presented to the wineries at a June 15 event in Trenton.

In winning Winery of the Year, Plagido’s Winery scored eight overall medals including a gold medal for the non-vintage Blackberry Vigoroso; four silver medals their 2015 Cab Franc, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, non-vintage Concetta’s Casalinga and 2015 Cour d’Est and three bronze medals for their non-vintage Chambourcin, 2015 Cab Franc/Merlot and non-vintage Niagara.

“What an honor it is to win this award two straight years,” said Ollie Tomasello. “This is certainly a validation of all the hard work and dedication by our family and staff to develop exceptional wine here at Plagido’s Winery that is enjoyed by our customers. We invite all wine drinkers to come to Hammonton and visit our winery and experience the quality of our wines for themselves.”

Other notable awards went to DiMatteo Vineyards of Hammonton winning Best American wine honors for their non-vintage Pasquale Red wine and Heritage Vineyards of Mullica Hill for Best Sparkling wine honors for the 2014 Brut. Sharrott Winery earned the most medals in the competition with 12, including two gold, four silver and six bronze medals. Heritage Vineyards, the 2011, 2014 and 2015 Winery of the Year had 10 medals, scoring eight silver and two bronze medals and Monroeville Vineyard and Winery in Monroeville also took home 10 medals with three silver and seven bronze medals.

In addition to winning the Governor’s Cup for Best Fruit wine, Terhune Orchards also led all entrants with three gold medals winning for the non-vintage Harvest Blue, non-vintage Blossum White and non-vintage Just Peachy wines. Terhune Orchards totaled nine medals with their three gold medal tallies and two silver and four bronze medals.

The GSWGA is a coalition of nearly 50 wineries and vineyards across New Jersey, dedicated to raising the quality and awareness of New Jersey wine.

Here is a complete list of the 2017 NJ Wine Competition results.

New Jersey Wine Competition Results

  • 2017 Winery of the Year, Plagido’s Winery, Hammonton
  • Governor’s Cup Grape, Fox Hollow Vineyards, Holmdel 2014 Cabernet Franc
  • Governor’s Cup Fruit, Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery, Princeton NV Harvest Blues
  • Governor’s Cup Dessert, Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2013 Wicked Port
  • Best Vinifera, Fox Hollow Vineyards, Holmdel, 2014 Cabernet Franc
  • Best Hybrid, Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2013 Wicked Port
  • Best American, DiMatteo Vineyards, Hammonton NV Pasquale Red
  • Best Sparkling, Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2014 Brut

Gold Medals

  • Bellview Winery, Landisville 2015 Vidal Blanc
  • DiMatteo Vineyards, Hammonton nv Pasquale Red
  • Fox Hollow Vineyards, Holmdel 2014 Cabernet Franc
  • Natali Vineyards, Cape May nv Dolcetta nv
  • Plagido’s Winery, Hammonton nv Blackberry Vigoroso
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor nv Vignoles
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2013 Wicked Port
  • Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery, Princeton nv Blossum White
  • Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery, Princeton nv Harvest Blues
  • Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery, Princeton nv Just Peachy
  • Working Dog Winery, East Windsor 2015 Traminette

Silver Medals

  • Bellview Winery, Landisville, 2016 Petite Verdot
  • Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown, 2014 Blue 2
  • Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Chardonnay
  • Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown 2016 Gewurtraminer
  • Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Shotgun Red
  • Cream Ridge Winery, Cream Ridge nv Cranberry Wine
  • DiMatteo Vineyards, Hammonton nv Choc Raz
  • DiMatteo Vineyards, Hammonton nv Diamond
  • DiMatteo Vineyards, Hammonton nv Merlot
  • Fox Hollow Vineyards, Holmdel 2015 Barrel aged Chardonnay
  • Fox Hollow Vineyards, Holmdel 2015 Riesling
  • Fox Hollow Vineyards, Holmdel 2014 Field Master Blend
  • Hawk Haven Vineyards, Rio Grande 2016 Albarino
  • Hawk Haven Vineyards, Rio Grande 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
  • Hawk Haven Vineyards, Rio Grande 2016 Dry Riesling
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2014 BDX
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2014 Brut
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2014 Cab Franc
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2015 Chenin Blanc
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2014 Coeur d’Est
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill nv Painted Horse
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill nv Penlyn Place Rosso
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2015 Sauvignon Blanc
  • Hopewell Valley Vineyard, Pennington 2006 Port
  • Laurita Winery, New Egypt, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Laurita Winery, New Egypt nv R2
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Monroeville nv Barrel aged apple
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery nv Stillwater Red
  • Mount Salem Vineyard, Pittstown 2015 Albarino
  • Natali Vineyards, Cape May Couthouse nv Beach Plum
  • Natali Vineyards, Cape May Courthouse nv Tempranillo
  • Plagido’s Winery, Hammonton 2015 Cab. Franc
  • Plagido’s Winery, hammonton 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Plagido’s Winery, Hammonton nv Concetta’s Casalinga
  • Plagido’s Winery, 2015 Coeur d Est
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2015 Barrel Res. Chardonnay
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2013 Coeur d’Est
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor nv Unoaked Chardonnay
  • Southwind Vineyard & Winery, Millville 2014 Blood,sweat,tears
  • Southwind Vineyard & Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery, Princeton nv Chambourcin
  • Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery, Princeton nv Vidal Blanc
  • Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes 2015 Fox Chardonnay
  • Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes 2013 Pheasant Hill Syrah
  • Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes nv Vat 22
  • Ventimiglia Vineyards, Wantage 2014 Chambourcin
  • White Horse Winery, Hammonton 2016 Chambourcin
  • Working Dog Winery, East Windsor 2014 Cab. Franc
  • Working Dog Winery, East Windsor 2014 Cabernet Franc Reserve
  • Working Dog Winery, East Windsor 2016 Viognier

Bronze Medals

  • Bellview Winery, Landisville 2013 Syrah
  • Bellview Winery, Landisville nv Port
  • Beneduce Vineyards, 2014 Cab Franc
  • Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown 2016 Three Windows White
  • Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown 2016 Rows End Rose
  • Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 White Space
  • Cream Ridge Winery, Cream Ridge nv Chambourcin
  • Cream Ridge Winery, Cream Ridge nv Jersey Berry
  • DiMatteo Vineyards, Hammonton nv Blueberry
  • DiMatteo Vineyards, Hammonton nv Cab Franc
  • Fox Hollow Vineyards, Holmdel 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Hawk Haven Vineyards, Rio Grande 2016 Gewurtraminer
  • Hawk Haven Vineyards, Rio Grande 2016 Pinot Grigio
  • Hawk Haven Vineyards, Rio Grande 2014 Tempranillo
  • Hawk Haven Vineyards, Rio Grande 2016 Viognier
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2015 Chardonnay Reserve
  • Heritage Vineyards, Mullica Hill 2015 Semillon
  • Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington 2015 Barbera
  • Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington 2013 Chambourcin
  • Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington 2015 Chardonnay
  • Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington nv Chocolate Port
  • Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington nv Dolce Vita
  • Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington nv Pinot Grigio
  • Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington 2013 Rosso della Valle 2015 Pinot Grigio
  • Jessie Creek Winery, Cape May
  • Jessie Creek Winery, Cape May nv Stratus
  • Laurita Winery, New Egypt 2014 Merlot
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Monroeville nv Asian Pear
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Monroeville nv Basil
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Monroeville nv Blueberry
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Monroeville nv Chardonnay
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Monroeville nv Richwood Red
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Monroeville nv Sangria
  • Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Monroeville nv Stillwater White
  • Mount Salem Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Barbera
  • Mount Salem Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Blau/Zwei/St.Laurent
  • Mount Salem Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Cab. Franc
  • Mount Salem Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Dry Riesling
  • Mount Salem Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Gruner Veltliner
  • Mount Salem Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Viognier
  • Mount Salem Vineyards, Pittstown 2015 Zweigelt
  • Natali Vineyards, Cape May Courthouse nv Barbera
  • Natali Vineyards, Cape May Courthouse nv Syrah
  • Natali Vineyards, Cape May Courthouse nv Viognier
  • Plagido’s Winery, Hammonton nv Chambourcin
  • Plagido’s Winery, Hammonton 2015 Cab Franc/Merlot
  • Plagido’s Winery, Hammonton nv Niagara
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2014 Chambourcin
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2015 Vidal Blanc
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2014 Sharrott
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2014 Syrah
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor nv Tango
  • Sharrott Winery, Blue Anchor 2013 Trio
  • Terhune Orchards & Winery, Princeton nv Apple
  • Terhune Orchards & Winery, Princeton nv Barn Red
  • Terhune Orchards & Winery, Princeton nv Farmhouse White
  • Terhune Orchards & Winery, Princeton nv Rooster Red
  • Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes 2014 Cab Franc
  • Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes 2016 Hunterdon Mistral Rose
  • Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes 2014 Mountain Road Chardonnay
  • Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes 2014 The Big O
  • Ventimiglia Vineyards, Wantage 2013 Cab Franc
  • Ventimiglia Vineyards, Wantage 2013 Pinot Noir
  • White Horse Winery, Hammonton 2016 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
  • Working Dog Winery, East Windsor 2015 Barrel Fermented Char
  • Working Dog Winery, East Windsor 2105 Chardonnay Reserve
  • Working Dog Winery, East Windsor 2015 Pinot Grigio

New Jersey Winery of the Year and Governor’s Cup Winners were honored at the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday June 15, 2017. From left to right: Bill Heritage (Heritage Vineyards), Pam and Gary Mount (Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery), Dr. Gary Pavlis (Rutgers), Kim Casola (Fox Hollow Vineyards), Ollie Tomasello (Plagido’s Winery), Larry Sharrott (Sharrott Winery), Frank DiMatteo (DiMatteo Vineyards), Tom Cosentino (GSWGA).

New Jersey Winery of the Year and Governor’s Cup Winners were honored at the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday June 15, 2017.