Tags
Arneis, bc wine, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dessert Wine, Gamay, Gewurztraminer, Icewine, Malbec, Marechal Foch, Meritage Blends, Merlot, Okanagan Wine Festivals, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Red Blends, Riesling, rosé, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling wine, Syrah, Viognier, White Blend
Last week I was one of the judges for the Best of Varietal competition in the 21st annual Okanagan Spring Wine Festival. Tonight I attended the Awards Reception where all the winners and finalists in each category was announced to the public and everyone was able to sample the top wines. For each category, the number of finalists was based on a percentage of the number of wines submitted. For example, there were 39 White Blends submitted, so there was one winner and 8 finalists chosen. Other categories with fewer entries had fewer finalists. This year there were a record number of wines entered: 479!
A big congratulations to the category winners!
Best Cabernet Franc
Harper’s Trail – Cabernet Franc 2013
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Cassini Cellars – Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve 2011
Best Chardonnay
Inniskillin Okanagan Estate Series – Chardonnay 2013
Best Dessert/Late Harvest/Port Style
Harper’s Trail – Late Harvest Riesling 2013
Best Gamay
Pentage Winery – Gamay Noir Estate Bottled 2013
Best Gewürztraminer
Wild Goose Vineyards – Mystic River Gewürztraminer 2014
Best Icewine
Inniskillin Okanagan – Dark Horse Vineyard Riesling Icewine 2012
Best Malbec
Sandhill Wines – Small Lots Malbec Phantom Creek Vineyard 2012
Best Marechal Foch
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery – Oak Bay Vineyard Foch 2013
Best Merlot
Sandhill Wines – Merlot Vanessa Vineyard 2012
Best Pinot Blanc
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery – St. Hubertus Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2014
Best Pinot Gris
50th Parallel Estate – Pinot Gris 2014
Best Pinot Noir
Moraine Estate Winery – Pinot Noir 2012
Best Red Meritage Blends Cabernet Dominated
Moon Curser Vineyards – Cabernet Merlot 2012
Best Red Meritage Blends Merlot Dominated
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery – Family Reserve Summit 2012
Best Red Blends “Other”
Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery – Alagria 2009
Best Red Single Variety “Other”
Sandhill Wines – Small Lots Sangiovese Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2012
Best Riesling
Wild Goose Vineyards – Stoney Slope Riesling 2013
Best Rosé/Blush
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery – Blanc De Noirs Rosé 2014
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Clos Du Soleil Winery – Fume Blanc 2014
The Best Sparkling
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery – Steller’s Jay Sparkling Pinnacle 2006
Best Syrah / Shiraz
TIME Estate Winery – Syrah 2012
Best Syrah/Shiraz Based Blends
Daydreamer Wines – Amelia 2013
Best Viognier
Sandhill Wines – Viognier Osprey Ridge Vineyard 2014
Best White Blends
Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery – Mingle 2013
Best White Single Variety “Other”
Moon Curser Vineyards – Arneis 2014