British Columbia had 148 wineries entered in this year’s National Wine Awards competition; the highest of any province. With such a strong field of competitors, earning a position in the top 10 is truly an accomplishment.
The wines were all served to the judges without displaying the producer, origin or price. The wines were identified and organized by grape variety or style. The top medalists were tasted in multiple rounds by many different judges.
The wineries identified in green periodically have their wines available for sale beyond British Columbia. The award winning wines identified in blue are available in Ontario through the LCBO.
1. La Frenz Estate Winery, Penticton, B.C. (2nd overall)
In addition to being the top B.C. winery, La Frenz was declared the Best Performing Small Winery of the Year. They previously received the title in 2017. This year they earned 2 Platinum, 6 Gold and 5 Silver medals. La Frenz wines are available online from their web site www.lafrenzwinery.com.
Platinum Award Winners
N/V Liqueur Muscat – Category: Fortified Wine -$22.00
2019 Reserve Ensemble – Category: White Blend – $29.00
Gold Award Winners
2019 Reserve Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $32.00
2018 Cabernets Rockyfeller Vineyard – Category: Red Blend – $32.00
2020 Riesling Cl. 21B Freedom 75 Vineyard – Category: Riesling – $22.00
2020 Sauvignon Blanc Wits End Vineyard – Category: Sauvignon Blanc – $24.00
2020 Semillon Knorr Vineyard – Category: Semillon – $25.00
N/V Tawny Port – Category: Other Fortified – $22.00
Silver Award Winners
Syrah Rockyfeller Vineyard – Category: Syrah – $32.00
2019 Pinot Noir Desperation Hill Vineyard – Category: Pinot Noir – $30.00
2019 Reserve Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $30.00
2019 Reserve Vivant – Category: White Blend – $29.00
2019 Vintage Port Style – Category: Other Fortified
2. Blasted Church Vineyards, Okanagan Falls, B.C. (3rd overall)
Blasted Church received 2 Platinum, 6 Gold, 5 Silver and 11 Bronze medals. There wines are available from their website at www.blastedchurch.com.
Platinum Award Winners
2019 Big Bang Theory – Category: Red Blend – $24.00
2019 Cabernet Franc – Category: Cabernet Franc – $36.90
Gold Award Winners
2017 Nectar of the Gods – Category: Red Blend – $75.00
2017 Holy Moly Petit Verdot – Category: Petit Verdot – $50.00
2018 Cabernet Merlot – Category: Red Blend – $34.00
2018 Small Blessings Malbec – Category: Malbec – $40.00
2018 Small Blessings Cabernet Sauvignon – Category: Cabernet Sauvignon – $50.00
2020 Blaufrankisch Rosé – Category: Rosé – $26.00
Silver Award Winners
2017 Cross to Bear – Category: Cabernet Franc – $50.00
2017 Nothing Sacred – Category: Red Blend – $50.00
2017 Syrah – Category: Syrah – $32.00
2020 Viognier – Category: Viognier – $24.00
2016 OMG – Category: Sparkling Wine – $30.00
Bronze Award Winners
2017 Merlot – Category: Merlot – $22.95
2018 Holy Moly Petit Verdot – Category: Petit Verdot – $22.95
2018 Merlot, Skaha Bench – Category: Merlot – $34.00
2018 Nectar of the Gods – Category: Red Blend – $75.00
2018 Nothing Sacred Category: Red Blend – $50.00
2018 Syrah – Category: Syrah – $32.00
2020 Big Bang Theory – Category: Red Blend – $24.00
2019 Pinot Gris – Category: Pinot Gris – $24.00
2020 Hatfield’s Fuse – Category: White Blend – $20.00
2020 Pinot Gris – Category: Pinot Gris – $24.00
2020 Unorthodox Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $22.00
3. Road 13 Vineyards, Oliver, B.C. (6th overall)
Road13 Vineyards earned 1 Platinum, 3 Gold and 3 Silver medals. Their wines may be purchased from their website www.road13vineyards.com.
Platinum Award Winner
2019 GSM – Category: Red Blend – $36.99
Gold Award Winners
2019 Syrah Malbec – Category: Red Blend – $36.99
2020 Cabernet Merlot – Category: Red Blend – $23.99
2019 Jackpot Malbec – Category: Malbec – $64.99
Silver Award Winners
2017 Sparkling Chenin Blanc – Category: Sparkling Wine – $39.99
2012 Jackpot Sparkling Chenin Blanc – Category: Sparkling Wine – $86.99
2020 Rosé – Category: Rosé – $23.99
4. Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, West Kelowna, B.C. (7th overall)
Quails’ Gate Estate Winery received 1 Platinum, 3 Gold, 9 Silver and 4 Bronze medals. Their wines are available from their website at www.quailsgate.com.
Platinum Award Winner
2019 Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $63.35
Gold Award Winners
2019 Richard’s Block Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $64.99
2019 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $45.00
2018 The Boswell Syrah – Category: Syrah – $69.99
Silver Award Winners
2018 The Connemara – Category: Red Blend – $84.99
2019 Queue – Category: Red Blend – $49.95
2019 The Boswell Syrah – Category: Syrah – $69.99
2019 Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $24.95
2020 Clone 220 Chenin Blanc – Category: Chenin Blanc – $39.99
2020 Clone 49 Riesling – Category: Riesling – $34.99
2020 Orchard Block Gewürztraminer – Category: Gewürztraminer – $26.99
2020 Lucy’s Block Rosé – Category: Rosé – $26.99
2019 Riesling Icewine – Category: Icewine – $44.99
Bronze Award Winners
2019 Dijon Clone Pinot Noir – Category” Pinot Noir – $45.00
2019 Old Vines Foch Reserve – Category: Other Red – $50.00
2019 Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $34.95
2019 Dry Riesling – Category: Riesling – $19.95
5. Mission Hill Family Estate, West Kelowna, B.C. (8th overall)
Mission Hill earned 6 Gold and 8 Silver medals at this year’s event. Their wines may be purchased from their website at www.missionhillwinery.com.
Gold Medal Winners
2017 Legacy Collection Quatrain – Category: Red Blend – $80.00
2017 Legacy Collection Compendium – Category: Red Blend – $80.00
2019 Legacy Collection Perpetua – Category: Chardonnay – $65.00
2019 Terroir Collection Vista’s Edge Cabernet Franc – Category: Cabernet Franc – $60.00
2019 Reserve Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $21.95
2020 Reserve Pinot Gris – Category: Pinot Gris
Silver Medal Winners
2018 Legacy Collection Prospectus – Category: Pinot Noir – $80.00
2019 Reserve Meritage – Category: Red Blend – $29.95
2019 Reserve Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $29.99
2019 Reserve Syrah – Category: Syrah – $26.99
2019 Terroir Collection Jagged Rock Syrah – Category: Syrah – $60.00
2019 Terroir Collection Reed Creek Organic Merlot – Category: Merlot – $60.00
2020 Terroir Collection Bluebird Passage Viognier – Category: Viognier – $35.00
2020 Terroir Collection Jagged Rock Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon – Category: White Blend – $35.00
6. Nk’Mip Cellars, Osoyoos, B.C. (10th overall)
Nk’Mip Cellars earned 5 Gold, 4 Silver and 8 Bronze medals at this year’s event. Their wines may be purchased from their website www.nkmipcellars.com.
Gold Medal Winners
2018 Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon – Category: Cabernet Sauvignon – $34.99
2019 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $28.99
2019 Mer’r’iym Red Meritage – Category: Red Blend – $63.35
2018 Qwam Qwmt Syrah – Category: Syrah – $34.94
2020 Mer’r’iym White Meritage – Category: White Blend – $31.99
Silver Medal Winners
2019 Merlot – Category: Merlot – $21.99
2019 Qwam Qwmt Merlot – Category: Merlot – $25.00
2019 Qwam Qwmt Syrah – Category: Syrah – $34.95
2020 Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $34.99
Bronze Award Winners
2019 Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $40.35
2020 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $28.99
2020 Qwam Qwmt Riesling – Category: Riesling – $28.99
2020 Winemakers Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $18.99
2020 Winemakers Dreamcatcher – Category: White Blend – $21.99
2020 Winemakers Pinot Blanc – Category: Pinot Blanc – $17.99
2020 Winemakers Rosé – Category: Rosé – $22.99
2020 Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine – Category: Icewine – $74.99
7. Meyer Family Vineyards, Okanagan Falls, B.C. (11th overall)
Meyer Family Vineyards was awarded 1 Platinum, 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze medal. Their wines are available online at www.mfvwines.com.
Platinum Award Winner
2019 Tribute Series Dr. Bonnie Henry Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $35.00
Gold Medal Winners
2019 Chardonnay McLean Creek Road Vineyard – Category: Chardonnay – $35.00
2019 Micro Cuvee Chardonnay McLean Creek Vineyard – Category: Chardonnay – $65.00
Silver Medal Winners
2019 Micro Cuvee Pinot Noir McLean Creek Vineyard – Category: Pinot Noir – $65.00
2019 Stevens Block Chardonnay Old Main Road – Category: Chardonnay – $36.95
2019 Pinot Noir McLean Creek Rd Vineyard – Category: Pinot Noir – $36.37
Bronze Award Winner
2019 Old Block Pinot Noir McLean Creek Vineyard – Category: Pinot Noir – $50.00
8. Maverick Estate Winery, Oliver, B.C. (12th overall)
Maverick Estate received 1 Platinum, 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals. Their wines may be purchases online at their website www.maverickwine.ca.
Platinum Award Winner
2019 Bush Vine Syrah – Category: Syrah – $34.58
Gold Medal Winners
2020 Amber Pinot Gris – Category: Orange Wine – $34.48
2019 Rubeus – Category: Red Blend: – $28.73
Silver Medal Winners
2020 Cross Road Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $31.03
2020 Carbonic Syrah – Category: Syrah – $40.23
2020 Provenance Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $32.18
Bronze Award Winners
2020 Sauvignon Blanc – Category: Sauvignon Blanc – $22.98
N/V Ella Brut Rosé – Category: Rosé – $35.00
9. Spearhead Winery, Kelowna, B.C. (13th overall)
Spearhead achieved 4 Gold, 5 Silver and 4 Bronze medals. Their wines are available online at www.spearheadwinery.com.
Gold Medal Winners
2018 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $41.50
2019 Riesling – Category: Riesling – $21.99
2019 Saddle Block Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $40.35
2019 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $41.50
Silver Medal Winners
2018 Saddle Block Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $41.50
2019 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $40.35
2019 Chardonnay Clone 95 – Category: Chardonnay – $30.00
2019 Saddle Block Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $35.00
2020 Golden Retreat Pinot Gris – Category: Pinot Gris – $23.10
Bronze Award Winners
2018 Cuvée Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $40.00
2018 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $41.50
2019 Cuvée Pinot Noir – Category: Pinot Noir – $48.40
2020 Pinot Noir Rosé – Category: Rosé – $26.55
10. Painted Rock Estate Winery, Penticton, B.C. (14th overall)
Painted Rock received 4 Gold and 4 Silver medals this year. Their wines are available from their website at www.paintedrock.ca.
Gold Medal Winners
2019 Cabernet Franc – Category: Cabernet Franc – $44.99
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon – Category: Cabernet Sauvignon – $44.99
2018 Merlot – Category: Merlot – $39.99
2019 Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $42.99
Silver Medal Winners
2019 Malbec – Category: Malbec – $44.99
2019 Merlot – Category: Merlot – $39.99
2019 Red Icon – Category: Red Blend – $64.99
2020 Chardonnay – Category: Chardonnay – $42.99
Next week I will review the awards achieved by Ontario wineries, the other major player in this year’s competition.
Sláinte mhaith
A Layman's Wine Musings 