Wineries fare well at competition

HAMILTON -- Seventeen wineries from New Jersey won a combined 86 medals at the International Finger Lakes Wine Competition.

Sixty judges representing sommeliers, educators, enologists, winemakers, writers, importers, retailers and industry consultants judged the competition.

The following Hammonton-area wineries won awards:

- DiMatteo Vineyards in Hammonton won a gold medal for its cranberry wine, silver medals for its Blushing Madison blueberry wine, its Pasquale Red Concord and its white sangria, and a bronze medal for its non-vintage chardonnay.

- Plagido's Winery in Hammonton won a gold medal for its non-vintage cranberry wine, silver medals for its non-vintage Antonia Rosso, non-vintage Cabernet Franc and non-vintage cherry wine, and bronze medals for its non-vintage cabernet/merlot and its non-vintage Conceta's Casalinga Fredonia.

- Sharrott Winery in Blue Anchor won silver medals for its non-vintage Crimson Sky, non-vintage dry Riesling, non-vintage raspberry wine and its non-vintage Riesling, and bronze medals for its 2009 Barrel Reserve Chardonnay, its 2009 merlot, its non-vintage pinot grigio, its 2009 Trio, a red Bordeaux blend, its 2010 unoaked chardonnay and its 2010 Vidal Blanc.

- Bellview Winery in Landisville won silver medals for its 2008 Lemberger, 2008 cabernet franc, 2008 chambourcin and 2008 cabernet sauvignon, and bronze medals for its 2008 syrah and 2008 Viognier.

- Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City won double gold for its 2008 Cynthiana, a silver medal for its 2008 Merlot Premium American, and bronze medals for its non-vintage American port, non-vintage blueberry champagne and its 2009 Riesling.