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Sparkling Muscat Ottonel (NV) from Sylvin Farms Winery
in Germania, Atlantic County won the 1998 "Governor's
Cup" for the best wine produced in New Jersey. Secretary
of Agriculture Arthur R. Brown, Jr. recently presented
the Governor's Cup to winemaker Dr. Frank Salek and
his wife Sylvia during "Grape Expectations," a day-long
symposium on viticulture and enology, the sciences
of growing grapes and making wine. The annual event
was sponsored by Rutgers Cooperative Extension and
the Department of Agriculture's New Jersey Wine Industry
Advisory Council.
Sylvin's wine took one of six gold
medals that were awarded to this year's competitors. The other gold
medalists included two wines from Unionville Vineyards, one each
from Cape May Winery and Tomasello Winery, and a jointly-produced
sparkling wine from Sylvin Farms/Tomasello Winery. A complete list
of wineries and awards follows. The Governor's Cup winner was selected
from the 91 wines submitted by New Jersey wineries during the 13th
annual New Jersey Wine Competition held in February. The competition
promotes excellence in the quality of New Jersey wine. Entries were
judged on individual varietal character and enological merit. Sylvin
Farms has been in existence since 1976, and was founded as a winery
in 1985 by Sylvia and Franklin Salek. One of the smallest New Jersey
wineries, Sylvin Farms is a true "roots to fruits" operation. Dr.
Salek has personally grafted all of the vines onto phylloxera-resistant
root stock himself. Sylvin farms has acquired a unique reputation
as a farm winery by devoting its energies exclusively to the production
of vinifera (European) grape varieties. Sylvin Farms is the only
New Jersey winery growing some of the vinifera varieties. Nestled
on a knoll between the Mullica and Great Harbor rivers, a maritime
climate is created by the moderating influences of these rivers and
the Atlantic Ocean and bay. Coupled with the vineyard's "gravelly
loam" soil, the growing conditions closely resemble those of the
most famous grape-producing regions of Europe. New Jersey wines have
been winning awards since the first New Jerseyans cultivated wine
producing vineyards for the British Empire in the mid-1700's. In
fact, by 1767, London's Royal Society of Arts recognized two New
Jersey vintners for their success in producing the first bottles
of quality wine derived from colonial agriculture. Two distinctly
different climatic areas exist in New Jersey, though both rely on
the climate-moderating influences of the Delaware River and Atlantic
Ocean. The viticultural regions in the south date back to the 1800s
when a thriving wine and grape juice industry was concentrated in
Vineland, Cumberland County. South Jersey vineyards are characterized
by a maritime climate with flat or low hills and sandy soils. The
northern viticultural regions have developed over the past two decades.
This area is typified by hilly terrain and hillside vineyards with
limestone or shale soils. In 1988, the first federally-designated
viticultural area entirely within New Jersey borders was established
in Warren County. The three major wine grape categories produced
in New Jersey are vinifera, French-American hybrids and native American.
Very little native American is produced due to the more sophisticated
palates of consumers. Although the New Jersey industry strives to
produce more vinifera wines due to their superior quality and consumer
recognition, their inherently delicate nature makes them more prone
to pests, diseases and cold intolerance. French-American hybrids
are predominantly produced in New Jersey because of their hardy nature
and excellent quality. New Jersey's 15 wineries produce approximately
175,000 gallons of wine per year, placing New Jersey in the top 15
wine-producing states in the nation. Most wineries are family-owned
and operated. All are open for tours and offer a selection of fine
wines for tasting and sales. There are over 40 different varieties
of wines available in the Garden State ranging from dry and semi-dry
table wines to sparkling, fruit and dessert wines. Call the New Jersey
Wine Line toll-free at 1-800-524-0043 for more information on industry
special events.
For more information on New Jersey
wines, contact Bill Walker, New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council,
(609) 292-8854; Dr. Joseph Fiola, Rutgers Fruit Research & Development
Center, (609) 758-7311; or Dr. Gary Pavlis, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
of Atlantic County, (609) 625-0056. For additional information about
Sylvin Farms Winery, call (609) 965- 1548 or (201) 778-1494.
1998
WINE COMPETITION AWARDS
ATLANTIC
COUNTY
- AMALTHEA
CELLARS
Louis Caraciollo, Proprietor, 267A Hayes Mill Road, Atco, (609) 768-8585
Silver Medal: '95 Chardonnay
Bronze Medals: '92 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, '93 Cabernet
Sauvignon, '92 Cabernet Sauvignon, '92 Chancellor Reserve,
'95 Chardonnay Reserve, '95 Pinot Noir
BALIC
WINERY
Savo Balic, Proprietor, Route 40, Mays Landing, (609) 625-2166
Bronze Medal: NV Chambourcin
RENAULT
WINERY
Joseph Milza, Proprietor, 72 N. Breman Ave., Egg Harbor/Galloway,
(609) 965-2111
Bronze Medal: '96 Cabernet
Sauvignon
SYLVIN
FARMS
Dr. Frank Salek, Proprietor, 24 No. Vienna Ave., Germania, (609)
965-1548 or (201) 778-1494
Gold Medal: GOVERNOR's CUP & Best
Sparkling Wine - NV Muscat Ottonel
Bronze Medals: '95 Cabernet Franc, '94 Cabernet Franc, '95
Cabernet Sauvignon, '94 Cabernet Sauvignon, '92 Cabernet Sauvignon,'97
Sauvignon Blanc, '96 Chardonnay, NV Blanc de Noir, NV Blanc de
Blanc, '95 Merlot
SYLVIN
FARMS/TOMASELLO WINERY
Gold Medal: NV Sparkling
Rkatzitelli
- TOMASELLO
WINERY
Charles Tomasello, Jr., & Jack Tomasello, Proprietors, 225 White
Horse Pike, Hammonton, 1-800-MMM-WINE
Gold Medal: Best Hybrid
- '96 Chambourcin
Silver Medal: '97 Steuben
Bronze Medals: '96 Cuvee De Chardonnay, '97 Riesling, '97 "Epilogue
- After Dinner" Wine, '96 Cabernet Sauvignon
CAPE
MAY COUNTY
- CAPE
MAY WINERY & VINEYARD
Bill & Joan Hayes, Proprietors, 709 Townbank Road, Cape May,
(609) 884-1169
Gold Medal: Best American
- NV Niagara
Silver Medals: NV Baco Noir Nouveau, '96 Chardonnay
(Barrel Fermented), '95 Chardonnay (Barrel Fermented), '96
Cabernet Sauvignon, NV Vidal Blanc, '96 Merlot
HUNTERDON
COUNTY
- AMWELL
VALLEY VINEYARD
Jeff Fisher, Proprietor, 80 Old York Road, Ringoes, (908) 788-5852
Bronze Medal: NV Gewurztraminer
POOR
RICHARD'S WINERY
Richard Dilts, Proprietor, 220 Ridge Road, Frenchtown, (908) 996-6480
Bronze Medals: NV Demi Doux,
'94 Vineyard Red, '95 Vidal Blanc
- UNIONVILLE
VINEYARDS
Kris Nielsen & Patricia Galloway, Proprietors; John Altmaier,
Winemaker, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes, (908) 788-0400
Gold Medals: Best Vinifera
- '97 Windfall Riesling, '96 Windfall Seyval
Silver Medal: '96 Hunter's White Reserve
Bronze Medals: '96 Hunter's Red Reserve, '95 Hunter's White
Reserve, NV Hunter's Gold, '96 Fields of Fire, '96 Hunter's White,
'95 Hunter's White
MONMOUTH
COUNTY
- CREAM
RIDGE VINEYARDS AND CHAMPAGNE CELLARS
Tom & Joan Amabile, Proprietor, Route 539, Cream Ridge, (609)
259-9797
Silver Medal: '97 Nectarine
Bronze Medals: '96 Zinfandel, '97 Ciliegia Amabile,
'97 Ciliegia Amabile (dry oak aged), '97 Red Raspberry Wine,
'97 Red Raspberry Wine (dry oak aged), '97 Plum Wine, '97 Proprietor's
White
WARREN
COUNTY
- ALBA
VINEYARD
Rudy Marchesi/Tom Sharko/Doc Willard, Proprietors, 269 Route 627,
Milford, (908) 995-7800
Silver Medals: Best Dessert
- '94 Alba Port, '96 Vidal Blanc, NV Red Raspberry
Bronze Medal: '96 Heritage Red
- FOUR
SISTERS WINERY AT MATARAZZO FARMS
Robert Matarazzo, Proprietor, 10 Doe Hollow Lane, Route 519, Belvidere,
(908) 475-3671
Bronze Medal: NV Robin's
Raspberry
ADDITIONAL
NEW JERSEY WINERIES
HUNTERDON
COUNTY
- KING'S
ROAD VINEYARD
Nicolaas Opdam, Manager & Winemaker, Route 579, Asbury, (800)
479-6479
SOMERSET
COUNTY
- LAFOLLETTE
VINEYARD & WINERY
Mimi Summerskill, Proprietor, 64 Harlingen Road, Belle Mead, (908)
359-8833
WARREN
COUNTY
- TAMUZZA
VINEYARDS
Paul Tamuzza, Proprietor, Cemetery Road, Hope, (908) 459-5878
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