which six were from New Jersey. New Jersey wines took three out of the top four spots in the white wine category and ranked third highest in the reds, and event organizers stated that the results were a "statistical tie." Several critics have publicly pointed out flaws in the competition including the comparison of weaker vintage French wines, and that the results are statistically meaningless. Indeed, event organizers Ashenfelter and Quandt have published papers criticising the methods of the 1976 Judgment of Paris and undermining the effectiveness of wine tastings. According to the AAWE, "A statistical evaluation of the tasting...further shows that the rank order of the wines was mostly insignificant. That is, if the wine judges repeated the tasting, the results would most likely be different. From a statistical viewpoint, most wines were undistinguishable." Geography and climate New Jersey is a very geologically and geographically diverse region. Most of the state has a humid mesothermal climate, and southern New Jersey has sandy soils and maritime climate affected by the Atlantic Ocean with longer growing seasons and more sun exposure than the north. Northern New Jersey, especially the northwestern regions of the state, experience a humid continental climate (microthermal)—a cooler climate due to its higher elevations in the mountainous and rocky terrain of the state's northwestern counties that are part of the Appalachian Mountains and the protected New York-New Jersey Highlands region. These northwestern regions of the state have colder winters and a shorter growing season that proves challenging to winegrowers who must consider this in their selecting cold-hardy varietals for cultivation, and in their viticultural practices. The state's five physiographic provinces offer a range of unique terroirs, climates and microclimates for vineyard production that is reflected in the essence of the wine. Geology Geologically, the state offers variety from the Appalachian Mountains and the Highlands in the state's northwest, to the Atlantic Coastal Plain region that encompasses both the Pine Barrens and the Jersey Shore. The state's geological features have impacted the course of settlement, development, commerce and industry over the past four centuries. New Jersey has five distinct physiographic provinces. They are: (listed from the south to the north) the outer and inner Atlantic Coastal Plain Provinces, the Piedmont Province, the Highlands Province, and the Ridge and Valley Province. Soils in the state vary. In the Atlantic Coastal Plain, fertile, loamy soil makes the land ideal for agriculture