Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy are toasting New Jersey’s wine industry.

The Murphys hosted a Jan. 28 reception at Drumthwacket, the governor’s mansion, joined by the Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) and local officials to celebrate some of the state’s best winemakers.

Attendees included Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-25th District; Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-19th District; Assemblyman William Moen, D-5th District; Sen. Mike Testa, R-1st District; New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Wengryn; and Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way.

As part of the festivities, winners from the Governor’s Cup in 2023 and 2024 were recognized. Although the competition honoring New Jersey wine has been held since the 1980s, the Murphys were the first to invite the winners to Drumthwacket for the awards ceremony. With the exception of the pandemic era, they have continued to welcome honorees for an awards ceremony.

They’ve also publicly thrown their support behind the wines of the Garden State. The first lady has said only wines produced in New Jersey are served at the official residence of the governor during state dinners, according to GWSGA.

Bill Green, owner of Saddlehill Cellars in Voorhees and marketing chair of GSWGA, said, “We’re really excited about where we are in New Jersey with wine. Having the governor help us enhance the New Jersey Governor’s Cup winners emphasizes the quality of the standards of what we’re looking to do here … We can’t be thankful enough for the support from the governor and first lady. We’re grateful that they do this.”

(More than) fine wine

The wine industry represents the fastest-growing segment of agriculture in New Jersey, according to GSWGA, a statewide coalition of wineries and vineyards. New Jersey vineyards grow more than 80 grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Albarino and Chardonnay, while the state’s wineries produce a wide array of fruit wines.

The Garden State is also one of the top producers of wine in the country, having produced approximately 2 million gallons across its more than 50 licensed wineries.

For the awards, New Jersey wineries may voluntarily submit bottles of their choice to The Beverage Tasting Institute in Chicago, where judges at a third-party organization blind-taste the wines and score them, according to GSWGA. The results are then returned to GSWGA and winners are announced.

2024 winners

• 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

2023 winners

• Governor’s Cup for Best in Show and Best New Jersey Dessert Wine 2023: Tomasello Winery, Hammonton
  2021 Ice Wine, Vidal Blanc
• Governor’s Cup for Best New Jersey Vinifera Red Wine 2023: Cape May Winery, Cape May
  2021 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
• Governor’s Cup for Best New Jersey Vinifera White Wine 2023: White Horse Winery, Hammonton
  2022 Estate Albarino
• Best New Jersey Red Hybrid Wine 2023: William Heritage Winery, Mullica Hill
  2021 Reserve Burn Pile Vineyard Chambourcin
• Best New Jersey Sparkling Wine 2023: Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown
  2022 Estate Grown Gewurz Pet Nat
• Best New Jersey Rosé 2023: William Heritage Winery, Mullica Hill
  2022 Reserve Grenache Syrah Rosé
• Best New Jersey White Hybrid Wine 2023: Bellview Winery, Landisville
  2021 Estate Grown Traminette

Take a quick look at the Governor’s Cup celebration:

Cheers:

This summer, Wine Spectator magazine’s 2024 Restaurant Awards recognized 85 restaurants in New Jersey among the best in the world when it comes to wine offerings. See the list >>