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Photos by Matt Ferguson Photography.
Wine of the Year
Wine of the Year honours go to Andy Gebert, (center) the co-owner of St. Hubertus Winery. From left to right Gianfelice Calabrese, Account Manager, Farm Credit Canada, Stephen Ahrendt, Partner, Grant Thornton, Andy and Barbara Gebert (with St. Hubertus Winery), Geoff Barlow, Director, Business Development, ContainerWorld.
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Photos by Matt Ferguson Photography.
Wine tasting
Wine tasting at the reception following the awards presentation.
The original “Winemaker’s Awards” from 1994 consisted of three red and three white wine categories. Today, with 24 different varietal categories and 567 wines entered, fifteen 15 judges narrowed the selection down to 122 finalists.
The contest was open to all licensed British Columbia wineries that use 100% fruit grown in the province.
An exceptional aspect of the judging is that judges are chosen from the trade including renowned sommeliers, restaurateurs and recognized wine media from across Western Canada. It features a unique judging process which allows each panel of judges to evaluate all of the wines in any given category, enabling a direct comparison for selecting the best wines.
“There is so much to be learned about the relationship between varietal, vinification and terroir when you blind taste all the same region’s varietals against each other. We really got to see who was pushing the envelope of winemaking in BC and tasted the full gambit of what was available stylistically,” said Alistair Veen, 2016 BC Sommelier of the Year and Sommelier, Chef, and Co-Owner of Tap Restaurant. “It’s always an honour to taste the best of the best in BC, it inspires us to continue sharing these delightful wines with our patrons and guests.”
“We feel that entering in the Best of Varietal Wine Awards allows us to showcase the quality of our wines on a province-wide scale. It provides us an going motivation to always keep learning and producing award winning wines,” said Sharon Fiume, co-proprietor, Ciao Bella Winery.
The Best of Varietal Wine Awards was held in Penticton, BC under the watchful eye of Marjorie King, who has over 20 years of wine competition experience and featured the following acclaimed wine experts:
- James Addington – Food & Beverage Manager, Delta Grand Resort, Kelowna
- Shelley Boettcher – freelance writer & editor, Calgary
- Dennis Dwernychuk – Senior Product Consultant, BC Liquor Stores, Kelowna
- Mark Filatow - Executive Chef and Owner, Waterfront Wines, Kelowna
- Simon Gillett - Sommelier, Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos
- Geoff Last – General Manager, Bin 905, Calgary
- Martin Lewis – Co-owner, Bad Tattoo Brewing, Penticton
- Jim Martin – Senior Product Consultant, Metro Liquor Group, Kelowna
- Samantha Rahn – Sommelier, Araxi, Whistler
- Audrey Surrao – Co-owner, Raudz Regional Table, Kelowna
- Mark Taylor – owner & Sommelier, Siena Restaurant, Vancouver
- Troy Townsin – author & CBC Radio wine columnist, Victoria
- Matt Wentzell – Sommelier, Kelowna
- Alistair Veen - Sommelier, Chef, and Co-Owner, Tap Restaurant
- Gloria Wheeler – Food & Beverage Manager, Hotel Eldorado, Kelowna
The list of winners of the 2016 British Columbia Best of Varietal Wine Awards were released by the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society.
There is one overall clear winner declared THE BEST in each category and new this year is a “Best in Show” wine.
Wine of the Year
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery – St. Hubertus Vineyard Riesling 2013
Best Cabernet Franc
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards – Cabernet Franc 2013
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Black Sage Vineyard – Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Best Chardonnay
CedarCreek Estate Winery – Estate Chardonnay 2014
Best Dessert Style Wine
Golden Age Meadery – Hearth and Fire Mead
Best Gewürztraminer
Wild Goose Vineyards – Mystic River Gewürztraminer 2015
Best Icewine
Inniskillin Okanagan – Dark Horse Vineyard Riesling Icewine 2012
Best Merlot
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards – Oldfield Series Merlot 2012
Best North American Hybrid
Monte Creek Ranch Winery – Frontenac Gris 2015
Best Pinot Blanc
Evolve Cellars – Pinot Blanc 2014
Best Pinot Gris
Arrowleaf Cellars – Pinot Gris 2015
Best Pinot Noir
Ciao Bella Winery – Pinot Nero 2014
Best Red Meritage Blend Cabernet Dominated
Cassini Cellars – MAXIUMUX Collector’s Series 2012
Best Red Meritage Blend Merlot Dominated
Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery – Obra Prima 2010
Best Red Blend
Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Winery – Living Desert Red 2013
Best Single Red Variety “Other”
Sandhill Vineyards Esate Wines – Small Lots Barbera Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2013
Best Single White Variety “Other”
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery – Muscat 2015
Best Riesling
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery – St. Hubertus Vineyard Riesling 2013
Best Rosé
Perseus Winery – Pinot Noir Rosé 2015
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Therapy Vineyards – Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Best Sparkling
Gray Monk Estate Winery – Odyssey Rosé Brut 2012
Best Syrah / Shiraz
Bench 1775 – Syrah 2013
Best Syrah Based Blend
CedarCreek Estate Winery – Senator’s Red 2013
Best Viognier
Black Hills Estate Winery – Viognier 2014
Best White Blend
Arrowleaf Cellars – Snow Tropics 2015