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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.