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.
There 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.)
The 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
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