On January 28, 2025, Governor Murphy invited the winners of the 2024 Governor’s Cup for NJ Wines to Drumthwacket. Wineries belonging to the Garden State Wine Growers Association were eligible to compete. South Jersey wineries had a great showing, taking four out of the seven awards, as judged by the Beverage Testing Institute.

William Heritage Winery in Mullica Hill was awarded Best in Show and Best NJ Dessert Wine for its 2023 Ice Cider. Their ice cider was made from estate-grown apples, which were hand-picked and sent to a cider mill for pressing. The cider was then frozen, and allowed to slowly thaw, allowing the winemaker to ferment a concentrated apple cider. The ice cider is $38 at the Winery in Mullica Hill or their tasting room in Haddonfield (which is lovely and well-worth going to, if you have not visited). Their ice cider is $38 for a 500 ml bottle.

William Heritage also won for Best NJ Vinifera White Wine 2024 for its 2023 Limited Release Chenin Blanc (already sold out at the winery and tasting room). Chenin Blanc is a varietal from the Loire Valley of France. Aside from the Loire (Vouvray), and NJ, it also grows well in South Africa, where it’s known as Steen.

White Horse Winery in Hammonton won Best NJ Rosé Wine for its 2023 Painted Estate Grown Rosé. Their rosé is a blend of their estate-grown Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon. It has notes of strawberry, peach, pink guava and passion fruit, with a crisp mouthfeel and a lingering finish. About $20 a bottle.

William Heritage also won for Best NJ Hybrid Red Wine for its 2022 Burn Pile Vineyard Reserve Chambourcin, a French-American hybrid grape. The winery’s description of this wine includes aromas of blackberry jam, ancho chile, and clove, with flavors of stewed plums, white pepper, dark chocolate, and earth. The burn pile used to be used to burn old trees and trimmings from their apple orchards, when it was an apple farm. The carbon-rich soil creates an intensely dark and concentrated wine, which would probably pair well with dark chocolate. $42 a bottle.

Speaking of chocolate, if you are looking for something to do in February, William Heritage Winery is holding a Wine & Chocolate event throughout the entire month. The Mullica Hill and Haddonfield Tasting Rooms will offer a dry wine and a sweet wine pairing. The 2024 Governor’s Cup winning Ice Cider will be part of the Sweet Wine pairing, paired with Apple Cider Caramel. All the chocolates will come from Mecha Chocolate in Haddonfield.

White Horse Winery is holding a Wine and Chocolate Tasting Weekend 2/13-2/15, which includes four wines and chocolates selected by chocolate sommelier Estelle Tracy. Cheers!