The Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in BC Wine in its present form has changed, as of today. From now on the ‘LG’s Awards’ will be managed and paid for by the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society. The competition will now be known as the The British Columbia Lieutenant-Governor’s Wine Awards.
On reflection, I’ve concluded that this change presents both challenges and opportunities. (I’ve been privileged to have judged at the ‘LG’s’ since Day One. You’ll find a few reports on this site from past years.)
The principal reason for the change made by Government House is as follows. The program has been immensely successful. It’s also far outgrown its original intent and capacity. As the number of wineries multiplied, the volume of entries increased exponentially. This represented a considerable cost in both dollars and people power. In short, something had to give.
The main points…
• The BC Wine Awards, under the auspices of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society, will manage and carry the costs of the judging. It rebrands as The British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards
• Wines entered must be 100 percent BC grown and made by a licensed BC winery.
• The Premier’s Award will become the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Best Wine in BC
• The Platinum Award will become the Lieutenant Governor’s Platinum Award. A maximum of 15 wines will be awarded in a given year.
• The Lieutenant Governor will still endeavour to present the awards in person. No doubt the Consular Corps will continue to tag along, in what has become a popular tradition.
• There will be a formal dinner and recognition for the winners at Government House.
Glasses arranged for the final round of judging
Pros & Cons
There was no question in my mind that the original contest (started in 2003), truly, was a one of a kind. Few wine competitions anywhere were as challenging, for both entrants and judges. The odds of a wine being selected were somewhere around 40 to one. I would add that the spirit of generosity and consensus on the judging panels was also noteworthy. It proved to be a critical part of the competition’s success.
Marjorie King—wine judging organizer par excellence—has to date run both panels. The good news is she will continue in her role.
The new ‘LG’s Award’ will carry a little less cachet, in that entire BC Wine Awards (including gold, silver and bronze medals) has been rebranded. However, maybe the added prestige will attract some who felt the BC Wine Awards didn’t previously merit their entries. A ‘BC LG’s Platinum Award’ will remain a considerable achievement. Not to mention a visit from the LG herself.
The BC Wine Awards charges an entry fee. ($99 plus GST per wine, for non society members.) That may present a challenge to smaller wineries, especially those who had become used to no fee. However, it’s important to note, this year, first timers may submit one bottle free of charge. This applies to any winery who has not previously entered the BC Wine Awards. I would suggest strongly that smaller wineries across the province who feel they have a high quality, prospective winner in their lineup not miss this chance to still enter a wine at no charge.
Fort Berens, in Lillooet, in 2014, was an ’emerging regions’ winner
The Spirit of the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards
It’s no secret. BC’s emerging regions have had a tough time winning at the LG’s. But a handful of wineries outside the Okanagan have succeeded. With increased awareness, each year the the signs were more positive.
The Okanagan likely will always be the dominant wine region—by sheer numbers. However, as years go by, those other areas are emerging, with differing styles, varieties and merits. My hope is that the new organisers will firmly embrace the spirit of the original Lieutenant Governor’s Awards. That this is, indeed, a province wide quest for excellence.
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