2020
The Governor’s Cup award winners and Best in Class awards for the NJ Wine Competition were announced Sept 30, 2020 by the Garden State Wine Growers Association and Governor Murphy during a Zoom call with media and industry representatives. For the third consecutive year the wines in the competition were judged by the esteemed Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) in Illinois headed by Jerald O’Kennard. BTI was able to judge the wines using their own internal social-distance protocols. NJ Wines were submitted for judging from April through the end of August. There were 128 wines entered in the competition from 19 different wineries.
Award Winners
Governor’s Cup for Best Red Vinifera: 95 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) 2018 Merlot, Hammonton, Outer Coastal Plain
Governor’s Cup for Best White Vinifera: 93 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Tuxedo, Pittstown, Hunterdon County
Governor’s Cup for Best Dessert Wine: 92 • William Heritage (NJ) 2017 Late Harvest, Semillon, Mullica Hill, Outer Coastal Plain 17% reserved sugar
Best in Class Winners:
Fortified Wine: 93 • Auburn Road Vineyard Vintage Ruby Fortified Wine, Chambourcin, Pilesgrove, Outer Coastal Plain 8% reserved sugar
Fruit Wine: 88 • Isaac Smith 2019 Apple Wine, Cape May Winery, Cape May Peninsula
Red Wine: 95 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) 2018 Merlot, Hammonton, Outer Coastal Plain
Best Hybrid Red: 90 • Bellview Winery 2018 Estate Bottled Chambourcin, Landisville, Outer Coastal Plain
Best Rosé Wine: 90 • Working Dog Winery 2019 Equinox Estate Bottled Rosé, East Windsor, Mercer County
Best Sparkling Wine: 93 • William Heritage (NJ) 2017 Blanc De Blancs, Mullica Hill, Outer Coastal Plain
Best Dessert Wine: 92 • William Heritage (NJ) 2017 Late Harvest, Semillon, Mullica Hill, Outer Coastal Plain 17% reserved sugar
Best Vinifera White Wine: 93 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Tuxedo, Pittstown, Hunterdon County
Best Hybrid White Wine: 89 • Bellview Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate Bottled, Traminette, Landisville, Outer Coastal Plain
Red Wines:
95 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) 2018 Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain. $25 Gold Medal – Best Red Wine, Best in Show Overall – 2020 Best NJ Red Wine
94 • Coda Rossa (NJ) 2018 Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain. $16 Gold Medal & Cellar Selection and Best Buy
93 • Palmaris (NJ) 2016 Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Outer Coastal Plain. $40 Gold Medal
93 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2017 Centerfold, Pinot Noir, Hunterdon County. $38 Gold Medal
93 • Working Dog Winery (NJ) 2017 Estate Bottled, Cabernet Franc, New Jersey. $26.99 Gold Medal
93 • Auburn Road (NJ) NV Volume One, Petit Verdot, Outer Coastal Plain. $45 Gold Medal
93 • Cape May (NJ) 2017 Pinot Noir, Cape May Penninsula. $22 Gold Medal
92 • Palmaris (NJ) 2016 Reserve, Petit Verdot, Outer Coastal Plain. $30 Gold Medal
92 • White Horse Winery (NJ) 2017 Cabernet Franc, Outer Coastal Plain. $42 Gold Medal
92 • Amalthea Cellars (NJ) 2017 Legends Edition Europa II, New Jersey. $32.99 Gold Medal
92 • Amalthea (NJ) 2017 Reserve, Cabernet Franc, New Jersey. $26.99 Gold Medal
91 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2015 Eidólon, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Gold Medal
91 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) 2019 Coia Vineyards, Blaufrankisch, Outer Coastal Plain. $26 Gold Medal
91 • Cape May (NJ) 2017 Red Meritage, Outer Coastal Plain. $18 Gold Medal & Best Buy
91 • Coda Rossa (NJ) 2018 Coeur D’Est Red Blend, Other Red, Outer Coastal Plain. $17 Gold Medal & Best Buy
90 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2017 Blue 2, Blaufrankisch, Hunterdon County. $36 Gold Medal
90 • Bellview Winery (NJ) 2018 Estate Bottled, Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain. $18 Gold Medal – 2020 Best New Jersey Hybrid Red
90 • Jessie Creek (NJ) 2019 Concord, American. Gold Medal
89 • Palmaris (NJ) 2017 Reserve, Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain. $28 Silver Medal
89 • Working Dog Winery (NJ) 2017 Estate Bottled, Merlot, New Jersey. $13 Silver Medal
89 • White Horse Winery (NJ) 2018 Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain. $18 Silver Medal
89 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2016 Gaia, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Silver Medal
89 • Coda Rossa (NJ) 2018 1526 Red Blend, Other Red, Outer Coastal Plain. $17 Silver Medal
88 • William Heritage (NJ) 2017 BDX, Outer Coastal Plain. $50 Silver Medal
88 • Salem Oak Vineyards (NJ) NV Shane Michael, Petite Sirah, Outer Coastal Plain. $20.99 Silver Medal
88 • Sky Acres (NJ) 2016 Petite Syrah, American. $25 Silver Medal
88 • Cape May (NJ) 2017 Cabernet Franc, Outer Coastal Plain. $20 Silver Medal
87 • Palmaris (NJ) 2016 Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Outer Coastal Plain. $40 Silver Medal
87 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2017 Cabernet Franc, Hunterdon County. $32 Silver Medal
87 • Working Dog Winery (NJ) 2017 Estate Bottled, Syrah, New Jersey. $26.99 Silver Medal
87 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2016 Giulia, Outer Coastal Plain. $17 Silver Medal
87 • Fox Hollow Vineyards (NJ) 2017 Cabernet Franc, New Jersey. $28 Silver Medal
87 • Sky Acres (NJ) 2018 Black River Red, Marechal Foch, New Jersey. $20 Silver Medal
87 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) NV Tango Red Blend, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Silver Medal
87 • Amalthea (NJ) 2017 Legends Edition Europa III, New Jersey. $32.99 Silver Medal
87 • Amalthea (NJ) 2017 Reserve, Merlot, New Jersey. $26.99 Silver Medal
86 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2017 Shotgun Red, Hunterdon County 2.4% rs. $16 Silver Medal
86 • Auburn Road (NJ) NV Peaceful Warrior First Chakra, Outer Coastal Plain. $16 Silver Medal
86 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) 2019 Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain. $25 Silver Medal
86 • Bellview Winery (NJ) 2018 Estate Bottled, Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain. $28 Silver Medal
85 • William Heritage (NJ) 2019 Carbonic Red Blend, Outer Coastal Plain. $30 Silver Medal
85 • Sky Acres (NJ) 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, American. $20 Silver Medal
85 • Amalthea (NJ) 2017 Clone II, Cabernet Sauvignon, New Jersey. $27.99 Silver Medal
83 • Blue Cork (NJ) 2018 Williamstown Reserve, Outer Coastal Plain. $29.99 Bronze Medal
82 • Jessie Creek (NJ) 2019 Berry Merlot, Merlot, American. Bronze Medal
80 • Blue Cork (NJ) 2018 Petit Verdot, Outer Coastal Plain. $26.99 Bronze Medal
Rosé
90 • Working Dog Winery (NJ) 2019 Equinox Estate Bottled Dry Rosé, New Jersey. $19.99 Gold Medal – 2020 Best NJ Rosé Wine
84 • Unionville Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Hunterdon Mistral Rosé, Hunterdon County. $24.95 Bronze Medal
84 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2019 Dry Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Bronze Medal
84 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2019 Rosalita Blush, Outer Coastal Plain 3.25% rs. $15 Bronze Medal
84 • Fox Hollow Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Pink Flamingo Rosé, New Jersey. $28 Bronze Medal
84 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) NV Dry Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain. $18 Bronze Medal
83 • William Heritage (NJ) 2019 Grenache Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain. $28 Bronze Medal
81 • Frightened Turtle (NJ) NV Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain. $16 Bronze Medal
81 • White Horse Winery (NJ) 2019 Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Bronze Medal
81 • White Horse Winery (NJ) NV Painted Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain. $21 Bronze Medal
White
93 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Tuxedo, Hunterdon County. $40 Gold Medal – 2020 Governor’s Cup, Best New Jersey Vinifera White
90 • Blue Cork (NJ) 2017 Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $21.99 Gold Medal
90 • William Heritage (NJ) 2019 Pumpkin Hill Vineyard, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $35 Gold Medal
89 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Three Windows White, Hunterdon County 1.1% rs. $24 Silver Medal
89 • White Horse Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate, Albarino, Outer Coastal Plain. $25 Silver Medal
89 • White Horse Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $29 Silver Medal
89 • Bellview Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate Bottled, Traminette, Outer Coastal Plain. $15 Silver Medal & Best Buy – 2020 Best New Jersey Hybrid White
88 • Working Dog Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate Bottled, Pinot Gris, New Jersey. $21.99 Silver Medal
88 • White Horse Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate, Traminette, Outer Coastal Plain. $18 Silver Medal
88 • Fox Hollow Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Derby White, New Jersey. $28 Silver Medal
88 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) 2019 Barrel Reserve, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $25 Silver Medal
88 • Bellview Winery (NJ) 2018 Estate Bottled, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $18 Silver Medal
87 • Salem Oak Vineyards (NJ) NV Sweet Caroline, New Jersey. $19.99 Silver Medal
87 • Salem Oak Vineyards (NJ) NV Luke, New Jersey. $16.99 Silver Medal
87 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2019 Solé, Vidal Blanc, Outer Coastal Plain. $16 Silver Medal
87 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2019 The White Bottle, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Silver Medal
87 • Fox Hollow Vineyards (NJ) 2018 Chardonnay, New Jersey. $28 Silver Medal
87 • Fox Hollow Vineyards (NJ) 2018 Belle Fleur, New Jersey. Silver Medal
86 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Gewurztraminer, Hunterdon County. $27 Silver Medal
86 • Working Dog Winery (NJ) 2019 Traminette, New Jersey. $18.99 Silver Medal
86 • White Horse Winery (NJ) 2018 Estate, Vidal Blanc, Outer Coastal Plain. $25 Silver Medal
86 • White Horse Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Silver Medal
86 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate Reserve, Vignoles, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Silver Medal
85 • Blue Cork (NJ) 2019 White, Outer Coastal Plain. $15.99 Silver Medal
85 • Working Dog Winery (NJ) 2019 Estate Bottled, Viognier, New Jersey. $29.99 Silver Medal
85 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2019 blancNU, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $17 Silver Medal
85 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2019 Pinot Grigio, Outer Coastal Plain. $17 Silver Medal
85 • Fox Hollow Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Petit Manseng, New Jersey. $25 Silver Medal
85 • Fox Hollow Vineyards (NJ) 2018 Mariposa, New Jersey. $22 Silver Medal
84 • Palmaris (NJ) 2017 Reserve, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $25 Bronze Medal
84 • Tomasello (NJ) 2019 Aromella, Outer Coastal Plain. $17 Bronze Medal
84 • Frightened Turtle (NJ) NV Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $16 Bronze Medal
84 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Chardonnay, Hunterdon County. $30 Bronze Medal
84 • White Horse Winery (NJ) NV Painted White, Outer Coastal Plain. $22 Bronze Medal
84 • Sky Acres (NJ) 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, American. $15 Bronze Medal
84 • Sharrott Winery (NJ) 2018 Unoaked, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain. $19 Bronze Medal
84 • Cape May (NJ) 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, Cape May Penninsula. $24 Bronze Medal
83 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2019 Dry Riesling, Hunterdon County. $30 Bronze Medal
83 • Working Dog Winery (NJ) 2019 Riesling, New Jersey. $23.99 Bronze Medal
83 • Cape May (NJ) 2019 Vidal Blanc, New Jersey. $18 Bronze Medal
82 • Salem Oak Vineyards (NJ) NV Juliamarie, New Jersey. $19.99 Bronze Medal
82 • Blue Cork (NJ) 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Outer Coastal Plain. $21.99 Bronze Medal
82 • Amalthea (NJ) 2017 Sur Lie, Chardonnay, New Jersey. $24.99 Bronze Medal
81 • William Heritage (NJ) 2019 Semillon, Outer Coastal Plain. $20 Bronze Medal
Sparkling
93 • William Heritage (NJ) 2017 Blanc De Blancs, Outer Coastal Plain. $40 Gold Medal – 2020 Best New Jersey Sparkling Wine
91 • Bellview Winery (NJ) NV Pet Nat, Outer Coastal Plain. $20 Gold Medal
90 • Tomasello (NJ) NV Sparkling Rkatsiteli, Outer Coastal Plain. $18 Gold Medal
82 • William Heritage (NJ) 2019 Pét-Nat Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain. $35 Bronze Medal
Sweet
92 • William Heritage (NJ) 2017 Late Harvest, Semillon, Outer Coastal Plain 17% rs. $40/375 ml Gold Medal – 2020 Governor’s Cup Best New Jersey Dessert Wine
89 • Beneduce Vineyards (NJ) 2017 White Space, Riesling, Hunterdon County 22.1% rs. $45 Silver Medal
88 • Salem Oak Vineyards (NJ) NV Analise, Concord, New Jersey 6% rs. $19.99 Silver Medal
Fortified
93 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2017 Vintage Ruby Fortified Wine, Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain 8% rs. $23/500 ml Gold Medal 2020 Best New Jersey Fortified Wine
89 • Unionville Vineyards (NJ) NV Vat #25 Port, Chambourcin, Hunterdon County 6% rs. $33.95/500 ml Silver Medal
89 • Tomasello (NJ) NV Blueberry Forté, Atlantic County 4% rs. $22/375 ml Silver Medal
88 • Isaac Smith (NJ) NV Red Domestic Port-Style Wine, New Jersey. $29/500 ml Silver Medal
88 • Bellview Winery (NJ) NV Batch No. 3 Port, Outer Coastal Plain. $28 Silver Medal
84 • Isaac Smith (NJ) 2019 White Domestic Port-Style Wine, New Jersey. $21/375 ml Bronze Medal
83 • Fallout (NJ) NV Fortified Peach Wine, Outer Coastal Plain 8% rs. $18/500 ml Bronze Medal
82 • Fallout (NJ) NV Fortified Apple Wine, Outer Coastal Plain. $18/500 ml Bronze Medal
Fruit
88 • Isaac Smith (NJ) 2019 Apple Wine, Outer Coastal Plain. $14 Silver Medal & Best Buy – 2020 Best New Jersey Fruit Wine
87 • Sunny Slope (NJ) NV Peach Wine, Outer Coastal Plain 4% rs. $11 Silver Medal
86 • Sunny Slope (NJ) NV Apple Wine, Outer Coastal Plain 4% rs. $11 Silver Medal
84 • Auburn Road (NJ) 2019 Hill Creek Apple Wine, Outer Coastal Plain 4.5% rs. $13 Bronze Medal