Manteo sunset

Gold medal weather accompanied our judging at Manteo Resort

If you’re a BC wine lover, the line-up of the 24 gold medal winners of this year’s British Columbia Wine Awards (a key part of the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival) adds up to a pretty serious shopping list. (Most of these wines should still be available at the winery.) We were fortunate to be invited back to judge this event, in which we last participated a couple of years ago, along with a well seasoned (and consensus-driven) panel.

OK wine fest blendsThere was plenty of competition for top spots in Cabernet Franc 2010 (Gold: Church & State, Tinhorn Creek, Sumac Ridge), Syrah 09, 08 (Gold: Cassini, Desert Hills, Black Hills, Quinta Ferriera,) and Riesling (Gold: Peller, Wild Goose, Lang), in particular. Kudos to Quinta Ferreira for its Syrah 2009 (Best Red of Show), and to Lang Vineyards for its Farm Riesling 2008 (Best White of Show). Best sparkling went to Road 13 Vineyards Chenin Blanc.

(Also worth a nod, Sumac Ridge Black Sage Cab Franc 2009 (Gold). As the wines will now be bottled under Constellation’s just unveiled Black Sage Vineyard trademarked brand, the original Sumac bottle will surely become a collector’s item.)

ManteoThe lack of gold for 2011 Chardonnay and 2011 Pinot Gris was a reflection of the challenging vintage, that did however seem to favour cool climate aromatics, and Riesling in particular.

It’s important to mention too that there were some 550 entries; and that the double blind contest over four days was expertly run by Marjorie King (Okanagan Wine Festivals director of judging) and her team of highly professional volunteers. Many thanks also to Manteo Resort for hosting us so well.

Here are the Gold winners—and Silver, which should definitely not be overlooked.

GOLD

Black Hills Estate Winery Syrah 2009

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2010

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Athene 2009

Cassini Cellars Syrah 2009

CedarCreek Estate Winery Platinum Chardonnay 2010

CedarCreek Estate Winery Platinum Meritage 2009

Church & State Wines Cabernet Franc 2010

Church & State Wines Quintessential 2009

Desert Hills Estate Winery Gewurztraminer 2011

Desert Hills Estate Winery Syrah 2008

Gray Monk Estate Winery Ehrenfelser 2011

Lang Vineyards Farm Reserve Riesling 2008

Meyer Family Vineyards Tribute Chardonnay 2010

Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2010

Peller Estates Winery Private Reserve Dry Riesling 2011

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2010

Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery Syrah 2009

Road 13 Vineyards Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2009

Road 13 Vineyards Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2011

Robin Ridge Winery Gamay 2010

Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2010

Thornhaven Estates Winery Gewurztraminer 2011

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2010

Wild Goose Vineyards Stoney Slope Riesling 2011

 

SILVER

Arrowleaf Cellars Pinot Noir 2010

Arrowleaf Cellars First Crush Red 2010

Arrowleaf Cellars First Crush Rose 2011

Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Chardonnay 2010

Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Blanc de Noirs Rose 2011

Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2011

Blasted Church Vineyards Mixed Blessings 2011

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Syrah 2009

Burrowing Estate Winery Chardonnay 2010

Calona Vineyards Artist Series Pinot Noir 2011

CedarCreek Estate Winery Syrah 2009

CedarCreek Estate Winery Ehrenfelser 2011

Church & State Wines Coyote Bowl Meritage 2009

Church & State Wines Sauvignon 2010

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery Dry Rock Unoaked Chardonnay 2011

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery Dry Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Clos du Soleil Winery Winemaker’s Reserve 2009

Gray Monk Estate Winery Riesling 2010

Gray Monk Estate Winery Odyssey Merlot 2009

Gray Monk Estate Winery Gewurztraminer 2011

Gray Monk Estate Winery Odyssey Traditional Brut 2009

Hester Creek Estate Winery Character Estate Red 2010

Hillside Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2010

Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Pinotage 2009

Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Sangiovese 2009

Intrigue Wines Gewurztraminer 2011

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Reserve Riesling 2011

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Reserve Select Viognier 2011

Kraze Legz Vineyard and Winery The Lindy Hop White 2011

Kraze Legz Vineyard and Winery All That Jazz Red 2010

Lake Breeze Vineyards XV Pinot Noir 2010

Lake Breeze Vineyards Bench White 2011

Mission Hill Family Estate Quatrain 2009

Mission Hill Family Estate SLC Syrah 2009

Mission Hill Family Estate Martin’s Lane Riesling 2011

Mission Hill Family Estate Reserve Riesling Icewine 2011

Mission Hill Family Estate SLC Riesling Icewine 2011

Moon Curser Vineyards Syrah 2010

Moon Curser Vineyards Border Vines 2010

Moon Curser Vineyards Merlot 2010

Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir 2010

Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Syrah 2008

Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2010

Nk’Mip Cellars Wine Makers Series Riesling 2010

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery Estate Produced Meritage 2009

Peller Estates Winery Family Series Pinot Gris 2011

Peller Estates Winery Private Reserve Syrah 2010

Pentage Wines Pinot Gris 2011

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery Chasselas Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris 2011

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2009

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery Chardonnay 2010

Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2009

Red Rooster Winery Pinot Gris 2011

Red Rooster Winery Cabernet Merlot 2010

Ruby Blues Winery Merlot Grand Reserve 2009

Rustic Roots Winery Iced Orin Frizzante N/V

Sandhill Wines Small Lots Three Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2009

See Ya Later Ranch Ping 2010

See Ya Later Ranch Hunny 2011

Seven Stones Winery Row 128 Merlot 2010

SpierHead Winery Pinot Noir 2010

Silkscarf Winery Viognier 2011

Silkscarf Winery Cabernet Franc 2008

Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard Syrah 2010

Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard The Heritage Block 2009

Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard Renaissance Pinot Noir 2010

Stone Boat Vineyards Chorus 2011

Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Gris 2011

Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Pipe 2006

Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Sparkling Gewurztraminer N/V

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Ariel 1998

Therapy Vineyards Fizzio Rose 2011

Thornhaven Estates Winery Pinot Gris 2011

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Oldfield Series Merlot 2009

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Oldfield Series Syrah 2009

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir 2009

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Oldfield Series 2 Bench Red 2009

Volcanic Hills Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2011

Volcanic Hills Estate Winery Magma Rose 2011

Volcanic Hills Estate Winery Magma Red 2010

Volcanic Hills Estate Winery Late Harvest Zweigelt 2011

Wild Goose Vineyards Mystic River Pinot Blanc 2011

Wild Goose Vineyards Mystic River Pinot Gris 2011

Wild Goose Vineyards Pinot Noir 2011

Best Sparkling

Road 13 Vineyards Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2009

Best White

Lang Vineyards Farm Reserve Riesling 2008

Best Red

Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery Syrah 2009

Best Dessert

See Ya Later Ranch Hunny 2011 (Silver)

See here for the full list, including BRONZE