Ontario’s Movers and Shakers for 2024

December 28, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

As the end of the year rolls around I think back to the year that was and which wineries left me with an impressionable mark. This is not to suggest that these are the only great wineries in the province; they are merely the ones that caught my attention this year. My list varies in length from year to year as I like to focus on achievements rather than listing a specific number of wineries.

Here is my list for 2024. The wineries are presented in alphabetical order.

Henry of Pelham Family Estate

I was surprised when I checked back to my past lists and found that Henry of Pelham has never appeared until now. It was the top Ontario winery this year at the National Wine Awards.

This six-generation family farm is situated in the Short Hills Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula. In 2006, Henry of Pelham was the first vineyard to be certified as local and sustainable by Local Food Plus. They have followed Sustainable Winemaking Ontario’s world-leading standards in their farming practices since 2004. In 2017, they became one of only six Ontario wineries to be certified by the Wine Council of Ontario as following sustainable winemaking practices from vine to table.

This year’s award-winning wines included:

Henry of Pelham NV Cuvée Catharine Brut Rosé
Henry of Pelham 2022 Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay
Henry of Pelham 2023 Pinot Grigio
Henry of Pelham 2020 Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot
Henry of Pelham 2023 Speck Family Reserve Riesling

Peller Estates Niagara-on-the Lake

This is Peller Estates fourth appearance on my Movers and Shakers list in the past five years. This year Peller Estates placed eighth at the National Wine Awards.

The Peller Estates team has operated in Niagara-on-the-Lake, in the heart of the Niagara wine region, as a family-owned Canadian company for four generations. Their winemaker is Katie Dickieson, who has previous work experience in vineyards in New Zealand and France, as well as in Ontario and British Columbia.

Their 2024 award winning wines included:

Peller Estates 2020 Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Peller Estates 2022 Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc
Peller Estates 2021 Signature Series Estate Red
Peller Estates 2023 Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Peller Estates 2023 Signature Series Vidal Oak Aged Icewine

The Organized Crime Winery

Organized Crime previously appeared as a Mover and Shaker in 2020. This year it was recognized as the fifth small winery at National Wine Awards.

Organized Crime is a second-generation, family-owned, small boutique winery located on the Beamsville Bench of the Niagara Peninsula.

They farm the land themselves and assist in the winemaking throughout all stages of the process. Their production volumes are very small as they intentionally lean towards the passion side of the business rather than the commercial.

Greg Yemen is Organized Crime’s Consultant Winemaker.

Award winning wines from 2024 included:

Organized Crime 2022 Sacred Series Cuvée Krystyna Chardonnay
Organized Crime 2020 Pipe Down
Organized Crime 2020 Sacred Series Tara Block Pinot Noir Unfiltered
Organized Crime 2020 Cabernet Franc Unfiltered
Organized Crime 2023 Riesling

Thirty Bench Wine Makers

Thirty Bench Wine Makers has previously appeared three times on the Movers and Shakers list, last in 2022. This year they were fifth at the National Wine Awards.

Thirty Bench is committed to “Small Lot” winemaking, which means that many of their wines are made in extremely limited numbers. With Riesling vineyards dating back as far as 1980, they are proud to be considered one of Niagara’s first true boutique wineries.

The Thirty Bench Wine Makers portfolio includes a diverse range of award-winning wines across nine varietals.

2024 award winning wines included:

Thirty Bench 2021 Small Lot Riesling Wood Post Vineyard
Thirty Bench 2022 Winemaker’s Blend Cabernet Franc
Thirty Bench N/V Sparkling Riesling
Thirty Bench 2021 Small Lot Chardonnay ‘Extended Barrel Aged’
Thirty Bench 2021 Small Lot Riesling Triangle Vineyard

Vieni Estates

Placing tenth at this year’s National Wine Awards, this is Vieni Estates first appearance on the Movers and Shakers list.

Vieni Estates brings the passion for wine from Italy and combines it with the love for this Canadian wine region. Located in the rolling hills of the Vinemount Ridge along the Niagara Escarpment, master winemaker Mauro Salvador takes the best of the many varietals grown on the estate to produce a broad range of still wines, ice wines and sparkling wines.

In addition to the many fine wines produced here, Vieni Estates also offers traditional Italian-style grappas and spirits distilled from the many fruits of Ontario.

This year’s award winning wines included:

Vieni Estates 2022 Cabernet Franc
Vieni Estates N/V Sparkling Apple Cider
Vieni Estates 2020 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Vieni Estates 2020 Aglianico Reserve
Vieni Estates 2023 Novello Nouveau Gamay Noir

Final Thoughts

The list of award-winning wines includes only a sampling from each winery in order to provide you with an idea of the noteworthy wines each winery produces. It is not an all-inclusive list.

As this is the final post for 2024, I would like to wish you all a safe and happy New Year!

Sláinte mhaith

British Columbia’s Movers and Shakers for 2024

December 21, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

As the end of the year rolls around I think back to the year that was and which wineries left me with an impressionable mark. My list varies in length from year to year as I like to focus on achievements rather than listing a specific number of wineries. Although B.C. wineries have had a very traumatic year, they continued to release some fantastic wines. The strength of B.C. wineries runs deep as they were awarded the majority of the awards at both the National Wine Awards and the All Canadian Wine Awards.

Here is my list of the wineries that have performed extremely well this past year. The wineries are presented in alphabetical order.

Black Hills Estate Winery

Black Hills last appeared on my list in 2022. This year they were fourth overall at the National Wine Awards.

Black Hills wine team is led by Ross Wise, one of only ten Masters of Wine in Canada. He has over 20 years of experience having worked in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Zealand, with an extensive background in organic and regenerative viticulture.

Black Hills has practiced organic farming since 2020, incorporating regenerative viticulture practices. By working with nature and promoting biodiversity, they strive towards a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Their approach is based on traditional, time-honoured winemaking techniques that favour patience over efficiency. The fruit is hand-harvested and slowly fermented using native yeasts to build complexity.

Black Hills approach to winemaking is defined by careful craftsmanship and a deep respect for nature. They blend traditional winemaking methods with modern technology.

Their 2024 award winning wines include:

Black Hills 2022 Bona Fide
Black Hills 2022 Ipso Facto
Black Hills 2022 Addendum
Black Hills 2022 Syrah
Black Hills 2022 Roussanne

Corcelettes Estate Winery

Corcelettes appeared on my Movers and Shakers list for the first time last year. This year they were the sixth place small winery at the National Wine Awards. They credit their success to their commitment to farming their vineyards in the most balanced and sustainable way possible.

The estate contains nearly 160 acres, with 30 planted acres of mostly Bordeaux varietal grapes, Syrah and Pinot Noir. The vineyards are located in the Similkameen Valley.

Their 2024 winning wines include:

Corcelettes 2021 Syrah
Corcelettes 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown
Corcelettes 2021 Malbec Micro Lot Series Estate Vineyard
Corcelettes 2020 Talus
Corcelettes 2021 Chardonnay

Lake Breeze Vineyards

Lake Breeze previously appeared on my list in 2020. This year they placed ninth overall at this year’s National Wine Awards. They were also the fourth place small winery.

Lake Breeze is located on the Naramata Bench on Lake Okanagan. The MacIntyre family purchased the property in 2001. Since then, Lake Breeze has become one of the most beautiful wineries in British Columbia. They practice careful and meticulous viticultural practices. They endeavor to take the natural expression of the grape and transfer it to the bottle with minimal intervention.

The vineyard consists of a 14 acre parcel originally named Rock Oven Vineyards. The first vines on the property were planted in 1985, making them some of the oldest on the Naramata Bench.

Their list of 2024 award winning wines include:

Lake Breeze 2020 Cellar Series Mistral
Lake Breeze 2022 Roussanne Viognier
Lake Breeze 2023 Riesling
Lake Breeze 2023 Ehrenfelser
Lake Breeze 2020 Cellar Series Alizé Roussanne

Meyer Family Vineyards

Meyer Family Vineyards was awarded second overall at this year’s National Wine Awards.

They follow the traditional French Burgundian style of wine making focusing on small case lots of varietals best suited and expressive of their unique place of origin. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the varietals produced. The grapes are hand harvested and hand crafted.

Meyer Family Vineyards has been in operation in the Okanagan Valley since 2006.

Their award-winning wines for 2024 include:

Meyer 2022 Chardonnay McLean Creek Road Vineyard
Meyer 2022 B Field Blend McLean Creek Road Vineyard
Meyer 2022 Old Block Pinot Noir McLean Creek Vineyard
Meyer 2020 Pinot Noir McLean Creek Road Vineyard
Meyer 2022 Micro Cuvee Pinot Noir McLean Creek Road Vineyard

Nostalgia Wines

Nostalgia Wines placed seventh this year at the National Wine Awards and was also the third-place small winery. They are located on the Black Sage Bench in Oliver.

Vintner Gina Fernandes Harfman is the fourth generation family farmer. She has created a small lot lineup of excellent quality wines.

The 2024 list of award-winning wines includes:

Nostalgia Wines 2020 Malbec Petit Verdot
Nostalgia Wines 2020 Merlot
Nostalgia Wines 2020 Meritage
Nostalgia Wines 2022 Rockabilly Red
Nostalgia Wines 2022 Chardonnay

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery

Quail’s Gate consistently performs well at the various Canadian wine awards. This year they placed sixth overall at the National Wine Awards.

They are a fourth-generation Okanagan farming family. The winery was founded in 1989. They remain committed to ensuring that the founding family principles and values are maintained throughout the winery. Through dedicated research and ground-breaking innovation, they have assembled a collection of wines that consistently exceed expectations in quality, character and flavour.

Quail’s Gate has 160 acres of vineyards which contain some of the most mature vinifera plantings in the country. They have been leaders in the development of Canadian viticulture practices.

Quails’ Gate Estate is certified by Sustainable Winegrowing BC, a made-in-BC program that leads the way in sustainable winegrowing practices and sets a standard for the province and the rest of the country.

Quails’ Gates 2024 award winning wines includes:

Quails’ Gate 2021 Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay
Quails’ Gate 2021 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay
Quails’ Gate 2022 Clone 49 Riesling
Quails’ Gate 2022 Clone 220 Chenin Blanc
Quails’ Gate 2023 Clone 49 Riesling

SpearHead Winery

SpearHead has been part of the Movers and Shakers list continually since 2022. This year they were named Winery of the Year and Small Winery of the Year at the National Wine Awards. In addition to the twin honours this year, they also had unprecedented success in an individual category (Pinot Noir), winning a total of seven medals for their Pinots, including three platinum, one gold, three silvers and a bronze. In total they earned a total of twelve medals.

Spearhead Winery is located on the benchlands of Southeast Kelowna. Their focus is on premium quality wine which they produce from grapes grown on the estate vineyard and from selected Okanagan Valley vineyards. The hand harvested grapes are sorted at the winery and fermented in small lots. They grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling grapes.

Their 2024 award winning wines include:

SpearHead 2022 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir
SpearHead 2022 Club Consensus Pinot Noir
SpearHead 2022 Saddle Block Pinot Noir
SpearHead 2021 Golden Retreat Pinot Noir
SpearHead 2021 Club Consensus Pinot Noir

Final Thoughts

Although these are the seven wineries I have featured, there are plenty of other fantastic British Columbia wineries. The devastation resulting from the environmental disasters of the past couple years have taken its toll on many of the wineries. I hope that all of the B.C. wineries will be able to recover from these disasters and continue to excel in producing the top-quality wines that we have come to enjoy over the years.

The list of award-winning wines includes only a sampling from each winery in order to provide you with an idea of the noteworthy wines each winery produces. It is not an all-inclusive list.

Sláinte mhaith

2024: A Year to Remember in British Columbia

November 9, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

It would be an understatement to simply say that Mother Nature has been unkind to the B.C. wine industry this year. In January the extreme cold caused devastating damage to the vast majority of the grapevines in both the Okanagan and Similkameen Valley. It is estimated that 90% of this year’s grape crops were lost and 15% of the vines were destroyed.

Further devastation resulted because of the hot dry summer consisting of heatwaves and wildfires. The good news is that because of the heat, the remaining grapes ripened quickly, resulting in an early harvest with smaller but more concentrated fruit.

Lifelong workers in B.C.’s wine industry cannot recall a year that has been as devastating as this one. The provincial government has established a 26 million dollar vine replant program with an additional 92 million dollars to be paid through the Production Insurance and AgriStability program.

B.C.’s wine industry generates approximately 3.75 billion dollars annually for the province and employs more than 14,000 full-time workers. There are about 350 licensed grape wine wineries in the province that receive nearly 1.2 million visitors annually.

In order to help the wine industry recover from the lost grape harvest, the province is permitting the impacted wineries to import grapes and grape juice in order to produce the 2024 vintage. However, the imported products will not be eligible to carry the B.C. Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) label. Without these unprecedented concessions, many wineries would face potential financial ruin resulting in cuts to thousands of direct and indirect jobs, including the loss of highly specialized wine makers and cellar masters whose expertise is essential to the industry.

So, what will all this mean for the wine drinker when comes to the 2024 vintage of BC wines? Because of the intense heat and early ripening of those grapes that did survive, they will provide very concentrated and flavourful wines. However, given the scarcity of the wines that will carry the VQA designation, you can expect the price of the 2024 vintage to be higher than most years.

You can also rest assured that the wines that will be created from imported grapes will meet the established standards of the winery producing them. After all, their hard established reputations are at stake here and no one is willing to jeopardize that. British Columbia’s talented winemakers will deliver great results.

Sláinte mhaith

Maritimes Adventure

October 5, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

During a recent trip to the maritime provinces of Canada, I made a point of seeking out local wines to try. The first I came across while in St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick; the second I found in North Rustico, Prince Edward Island and two while in Nova Scotia.

The first wine my wife and I tried was a 2019 Marquette from the Magnetic Hill Winery of Moncton, New Brunswick. It was a light bodied red wine similar to a Pinot Noir. It had aromas of cherries, blackcurrants and blackberries. The wine was a pleasure to drink and reasonably priced at $20.00 CDN.

The Marquette varietal is the cousin of the Frontenac varietal, which is a well-known French North American hybrid, and a descendant of Pinot Noir. This wine pairs well with pub foods such as cheeseburgers, bangers (sausages) and mash and chili con carne.

The second wine we tried was a $21.99 CDN Gamay from Matos Winery & Vineyards of St. Catherines, PEI. Until then I was not aware that there is a winery on PEI.

Matos Winery & Vineyards is a family-owned and run business that was initiated in 2007. They utilize the French concept of terroir whereby they found a location where the combination of soil, slope, sun exposure and the peculiar weather patterns allow certain grape varieties to thrive. They consulted with European vintners who visited PEI to provide their skill and knowledge.

Their Gamay has won a bronze medal at the National Wine Awards in 2016, 2014, 2012 and silver in 2011.

The first wine from Nova Scotia that we tried was the 2022 Baco Noir from Blomidon Estate Winery, of the Annapolis Valley, near Canning.

The 2022 Baco Noir has a nose of bright berry fruit accentuated by vanilla and notes of spice. Unfortunately for us, we found the wine to be slightly harsh and not quite as smooth and mellow as we have become accustomed to for Baco Noir. The price of this wine is $23.00 CDN.

Given the structure of this wine it would be best suited for pairing with barbecued beef or pork.

Blomidon Estate produces 100% Nova Scotia grown grapes and wines. Over the years they have earned several national and international awards.

The 2^nd wine from Nova Scotia we experienced was Founders’ Red from Jost Winery, which is made from a blend of Leon Millot and Marechal Foch grapes. We experienced this wine during a quiet afternoon at our B&B outside of Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick. Like the day, this wine was very smooth and mellow. It had wonderful fruit flavours and was well worth the $17.19 CDN we paid for it.

Founders’ Red is a well-balanced blend of Nova Scotian-grown grapes with deep colour and intensity. This wine pairs well with barbequed meats and roasted pork.

Sláinte mhaith

Canadian Wine Trends

August 10, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Here is what the organizers and judges were seeing, hearing and thinking at this year’s WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC). Their narrative has been separated by each judging category and presented below.

Sparkling Wine

While global wine consumption has decreased over the past two years. Sparkling wine, except for costly Champagne, has progressed upwards. In Canada, the Sparkling category burst during the pandemic, especially with accessible and affordable selections. The quality of Canadian sparkling wine continues to improve.

Red Blends

Red blends are abundant in both British Columbia and Ontario, making it the second largest category at the National Wine Awards. There is a variety of styles and grape varieties.

Bordeaux blends and Rhone blends continue to be important, but winemakers are increasingly evolving beyond the traditional French classic style. The next frontier is beginning to appear where blends consisting of Malbec, Carménère and Syrah are part of a new wave of Okanagan red blends.

White Blends

Winemakers continually mix and match with several varietal combinations. There are many permutations made with traditional varietals, as well as hybrid grapes.

There are no firm rules other than those set out by VQA which says that all the grapes in a labeled bottle must come from the province, an appellation and sub-appellation. Beyond this, the choices are endless, allowing white blends to vary from the traditional to the eclectic. Concepts include the Bordeaux combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, Rhône blends that may include Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, but also Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Bourboulenc, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc. This year, British Columbia has continued to set the trends for blending and styles.

Rosé

There is a great deal of flexibility with respect to producing Rosé wine. Extraction levels and pigmentation can vary, many red or combination of red and white grape varietals can be used and there are no rules overseeing sweetness levels or oak aging.

Most Rosés are not meant for extended aging and are often best consumed in the year in which they are made. In Canada, most Rosés are bottled from March to June and make it to the stores between April and July.

Pinot Gris/Grigio

This white wine grape is a mutation clone of the black Pinot Noir grape. The skin colour varies greatly, and the wines produced from Pinot Gris also vary in hue from palest yellow to deep golden to blushing salmon. Pinot Gris also goes by its Italian name, Pinot Grigio. Wines made in the fresh, crisp and unoaked style of Italy’s Veneto region are called Grigio, while those in a richer, riper version go by Gris.

Orange

Orange wines are skiin contact white wines. There is no rule as to the length of the contact period or the grape varietals used. These wines range widely in colour and style.

Niagara’s popular Vidal grape responded well to skin contact, bringing texture and complexity to its tropical fruit profile. However, aromatic Gewürztraminer, with its subtly oily mouthfeel and subtle tannic framework, also showed well.

Gamay

Things change each year as there are new entries from newer wineries making Gamay. Some things also remain the same as many long-time advocates and committed Gamay producers continue to make excellent wines.

Pinot Noir

No other grape causes more of a stir. For many, there is no other grape variety. Pinot Noir has found enormous global success and Canadian soils are largely responsible for that. From agile, transparent, high-toned, red berry charmers to darker, seriously ripe and often tannic iterations, Pinot Noir succeeds with harmony and balance.

Chardonnay

This is always one of the largest categories in the competition. Chardonnay always leads or equals the greatest number of medals from platinum to bronze. Prices ranged from $87 for the most expensive medal winner to $11.95 for the least costly.

While the most expensive wine was not a platinum winner, there is a correlation between price and medal earned, establishing that top quality wine sells for more money. The average price for the platinum winners came in at just over $45, $40 for gold, $39 for silver and $33 for Bronze.

Malbec and other Red Single Varieties

Malbec represented 18 of the 41 medal winners in this category and accounted for 7 of 8 of the gold medals. It accounted for just 1.4% of entries in the competition but earned 4.1% of all gold medals.

This trend is almost entirely driven by British Columbia. There is something special about Okanagan Malbec. Much like Syrah, it does well up and down the valley.

Other White Single Varieties

Chardonnay and Riesling are often singled out as the signature grapes when it comes to top quality Canadian white wine. There are many other white varieties producing spectacular results including Grüner Veltliner wines from British Columbia.

Chenin Blanc is another consistent performer in BC and Ontario, making vibrant, fruit- forward wines.

Sleek, elegant Sémillon wines are also cropping up with increased frequency from coast to coast, as single variety wines and in classic Sauvignon blends.

Pinot Blanc proved its merit for good value, easy drinking white wine.

Gewürztraminer and Viognier

Viognier and Gewürztraminer remain minor varieties on the Canadian wine scene. Both grapes are particularly unreliable in Ontario, where Gewürztraminer accounted for just 2% of total production in 2023. Viognier is so rare that it is in the “other” category in the VQA’s annual report. In B.C. Gewürztraminer places a respectable 4th among white varieties in 2023, behind Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling. Viognier sits in ninth position alongside other Rhône varieties suitable to the West Coast’s unique conditions.

Sauvignon Blanc

At this year’s competition, Sauvignon Blanc took great strides and gained increased favour from judges and wine lovers. There were 32 medals awarded, with 20 going to Ontario and 12 to British Columbia. Of impressive interest is the average price of the 16 Silver Medal winners. These are wines that scored 90 points with an average cost of $23.40.

Syrah

“Syrah” above “Shiraz” is the key style in Canada. Reflective of a French Rhône style “Syrah”, as opposed to “Shiraz”, wines labelled as such tend to be distinctively peppery, with more sharp tannins, lower alcohol and exhibit more freshness than “Shiraz”. Yet in Canada, there is no enforcement over the use of these terms. Vintage variation and place do play a deterministic role, but the style of Syrah in Canada is heavily influenced by winegrowing and winemaking decisions that vary from producer to producer.

Ontario can produce excellent Syrah, but the category has forever been dominated by British Columbia.

Riesling

Canada has many great and quality examples of Riesling. It is a variety that truly expresses the place where it is grown. Riesling also counts among some of Canada’s oldest planted vinifera varieties, with plantings dating back to the mid 1970’s and early 1980’s in both Niagara and the Okanagan Valley.

Icewine & Late Harvest

Icewine, is the most important wine export. Now more than ever, due to erratic weather patterns, production is being threatened. Since the start of Icewine production in the 1970’s, a harvest has never been missed despite coming close a few times because of a mild winter in Ontario.

VQA regulations require the grapes to be naturally frozen on the vine, harvested, and pressed while the air temperature remains at or below -8 degrees Celsius. Recurrent periods of freezing and thawing can cause grapes to split, increasing unpredictable acidity in the wine. Production is a physically demanding task for both for the vines, that must bear their fruit into the cold of winter, as well as for the winemaker, who often harvests on the coldest of winter nights.

Cabernet Sauvignon

The number of gold medals has dropped from 13 in 2022 to 10 in 2023 to 7 this year. Despite the results, it is the category that has the most potential.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted grape in the world, but such is not the case in Canada. It is the third most planted red variety in British Columbia, with 7.7% of total grapes grown. In Ontario, Cabernet Sauvignon represents only 5.9% of the grape harvest. There’s been a consistent downward trend, as a percentage of tonnage, over the last five years.

Cabernet Franc

Ontario has historically had a slight edge over the Okanagan Valley, given Ontario’s generally cooler and wetter climate, which suits the lighter, aromatic style that the judges tend to favour. However, the margin of difference has always been slim.

This year Ontario captured 38 out of 53 medals in total. However, British Columbia’s representation was impacted by the wildfires that severely impacted the Okanagan Valley in 2021, which resulted in smoke-tainted wines from some parts of the valley. Since these wineries did not submit any smoke-tainted wines, the number of submissions from B.C. was reduced significantly.

Merlot

Merlot remains the number one red planted grape in British Columbia.

There you have it; and that’s a wrap on the 2024 National Wine Awards.

Sláinte mhaith

2024 National Wine Awards

August 2, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

The WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC) is the country’s largest competition, involving only 100 percent Canadian-grown and produced wines. The judging involves a select group of Canadian wine writers, educators, sommeliers and two international judges who spend a week assessing some 2000 wines and ciders. This year’s competition took place near Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Double Honour

The Winery of the Year and Small Winery of the Year is Kelowna British Columbia’s SpearHead Winery. In addition to the twin honours this year, they also had unprecedented success in an individual category (Pinot Noir), winning a total of seven medals for their Pinots, including three platinum, one gold, three silvers and a bronze. In total they earned a total of twelve medals.

Top 10 Wineries

Six of the top ten wineries this year are from British Columbia, with the remaining four from Ontario. The top ten are:

SpearHead Winery, British Columbia
Meyer Family Vineyards, British Columbia
Henry of Pelham, Ontario
Black Hills Estate Winery, British Columbia
Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Ontario
Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, British Columbia
Nostalgia Wines, British Columbia
Peller Estates Niagara-on-the Lake, Ontario
Lake Breeze Vineyards, British Columbia
Vieni Estates, Ontario

The Top 10 Small Wineries

Seven of the top ten small wineries are from British Columbia, with the remainder from Ontario. The top ten are:

SpearHead Winery, British Columbia
Meyer Family Vineyards, British Columbia
Nostalgia Wines, British Columbia
Lake Breeze Vineyards, British Columbia
The Organized Crime Winery, Ontario
Corcelettes Estate Winery, British Columbia
Black Bank Hill, Ontario
Kismet Estate Winery, British Columbia
Fort Berens Estate Winery, British Columbia
Lailey Winery, Ontario

Regional Top 10 Winners

British Columbia

SpearHead Winery
Meyer Family Vineyards
Black Hills Estate Winery
Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
Nostalgia Wines
Lake Breeze Vineyards
Corcelettes Estate Winery
Nk’Mip Cellars
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Kismet Estate Winery

Ontario

Henry of Pelham
Thirty Bench Wine Makers
Peller Estates Niagara-on-the-Lake
Vieni Estates
The Organized Crime Winery
Black Bank Hill
Two Sisters Vineyards
Lailey Winery
Hidden Bench Estate Winery
Marynissen Estates

Platinum and Gold Medal Winners

Only 1% of the wines entered earn a Platinum Medal. This year, 18 out of 1,800 wines received this recognition. Every Platinum winner has passed through a minimum of two tastings and a review by a minimum of five judges. These wines must be put forward by at least three judges in the first round and re-considered by at least five judges in the second round.

Earning a Platinum Medal greatly increases a winery’s performance score based on the mathematical degree of difficulty in reaching Platinum. This helps to decide the Winery of the Year and the Top 25 list.

Platinum and Gold medals were awarded in the following categories, presented alphabetically below:

Cabernet Franc

Platinum Medal

Black Bank Hill 2020 Cabernet Franc, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Vieni Estates 2022 Cabernet Franc, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Gold Medal

Bordertown 2020 Cabernet Franc Reserve, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Domaine Queylus 2022 Cabernet Franc Réserve du Domaine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fielding 2022 Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Megalomaniac Wines 2020 To Be Frank Cabernet Franc, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Organized Crime 2020 Cabernet Franc Unfiltered, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Stonebridge 2020 Reserve Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard, Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Thirty Bench 2022 Winemaker’s Blend Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Vieni Estates 2020 Cabernet Franc Reserve, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Watchful Eye Winery 2022 Cabernet Franc, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Cabernet Sauvignon

Platinum Medal

Peller Estates 2020 Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Gold Medal

Chaberton Estate Winery 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, British Columbia
Colio Estate Wines 2020 Small Lot Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Corcelettes 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Hillside Winery 2020 Howe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kismet 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nk’Mip Cellars 2020 Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Sprucewood Shores 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Ha

Chardonnay

Platinum Medal

Henry of Pelham 2022 Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Meyer 2022 Chardonnay McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate 2021 Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Gold Medal

CedarCreek 2022 Platinum Jagged Rock Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
CedarCreek 2022 Platinum Lake Country Chardonnay, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Cloudsley Cellars 2021 Chardonnay, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Domaine Queylus 2020 Chardonnay Tradition, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fort Berens 2022 White Gold Chardonnay Reserve, Lillooet, British Columbia
Gray Monk 2022 Odyssey Chardonnay, British Columbia
Konzelmann 2022 Reserve Series Chardonnay Barrel Aged, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Le Clos Jordanne 2021 Le Grand Clos Chardonnay, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Meyer 2022 Chardonnay Old Main Rd Vineyard, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Meyer 2022 Dekleva Clone Chardonnay Anarchist Mountain Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Monte Creek 2022 Living Land Chardonnay, British Columbia
O’Rourke Family Estate 2022 Twisted Pine Chardonnay, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Organized Crime 2022 Sacred Series Cuvée Krystyna Chardonnay, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Quails’ Gate 2021 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Redstone Winery 2021 Chardonnay Limestone Vineyard, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Solvero 2022 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tawse 2021 Quarry Road Chardonnay, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
The Good Earth 2021 Chardonnay, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Thirty Bench 2021 Small Lot Chardonnay Extended Barrel Aged, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Trius 2022 Showcase Chardonnay Wild Ferment Watching Tree Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Westcott 2021 Block 76 Chardonnay, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Gamay

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

13th Street Winery 2023 Gamay, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Deep Roots 2022 Reserve Gamay Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Malivoire 2023 Gamay, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Malivoire 2023 Le Coeur Gamay, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Stratus 2022 Gamay, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Three Sisters Winery 2022 Gamay, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Gewürztraminer and Viognier

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

Hillside Winery 2023 Gewürztraminer, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Magnotta 2022 Gewürztraminer Venture Series, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Meyer 2022 Gewürztraminer McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Icewine & Late Harvest

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

Inniskillin Niagara 2022 Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Jackson-Triggs Niagara 2022 Reserve Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Two Sisters Vineyards 2023 Riesling Icewine, Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Malbec and other Red Single Varieties

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

Blasted Church 2022 Small Blessings Grenache, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Corcelettes 2021 Malbec Micro Lot Series Estate Vineyard, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Fox & Archer 2021 Malbec, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lailey Winery 2021 Wild Ferment Malbec Lailey Vineyard, Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Rainmaker Wines 2020 Malbec The Risk Taker Rattlesnake Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Road 13 2021 John Oliver Selection Malbec, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Valley Commons 2021 Malbec Single Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Van Westen 2021 Violeta, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Merlot

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

Black Sage Vineyard 2020 Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Marynissen Estates 2020 Platinum Merlot, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Nk’Mip Cellars 2021 Qwam Qwmt Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nostalgia Wines 2020 Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Pinot Gris/Grigio

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

EastDell 2023 Pinot Grigio, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Henry of Pelham 2023 Pinot Grigio, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Niagara 2022 Reserve Pinot Gris, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Marynissen Estates 2023 Pinot Grigio, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Mayhem 2023 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Unsworth Vineyards 2023 Saison Vineyard Pinot Gris, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Pinot Noir

Platinum Medal

Meyer 2022 B Field Blend McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2022 Club Consensus Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2022 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2022 Saddle Block Pinot Noir, East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Gold Medal

1 Mill Road Winery 2022 Pinot Noir Black Pine, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
1 Mill Road Winery 2022 Pinot Noir Home Block, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Blue Grouse Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Noir, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
CedarCreek 2022 Estate Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Domaine Queylus 2020 Pinot Noir La Grande Réserve , Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fort Berens 2022 Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Hidden Bench 2021 Pinot Noir Unfiltered Felseck Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Hidden Bench 2021 Pinot Noir Unfiltered Locust Lane Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Meyer 2020 Pinot Noir McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Meyer 2022 Micro Cuvee Pinot Noir McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Meyer 2022 Old Block Pinot Noir McLean Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Monte Creek 2022 Living Land Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Organized Crime 2020 Sacred Series Tara Block Pinot Noir Unfiltered, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Riverview Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Rosehall Run 2022 Pinot Noir, Ontario
SpearHead 2021 Golden Retreat Pinot Noir, Summerland Lakefront, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tightrope 2022 Pinot Noir Rubis, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Unsworth Vineyards 2022 Cowichan Valley Pinot Noir, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Red Blends

Platinum Medal

Black Hills 2022 Bona Fide, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Burrowing Owl 2021 Athene, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Hester Creek 2022 GSM, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nostalgia Wines 2020 Malbec Petit Verdot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Gold Medal

Black Hills 2022 Ipso Facto, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Black Hills 2022 Addendum, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Colio Estate Wines 2020 Small Lot Series Meritage, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Corcelettes 2020 Talus, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Foolish Wine 2020 Hooligan Meritage, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Henry of Pelham 2020 Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Hidden Bench 2020 La Brunante Unfiltered, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Kismet 2020 Moksha, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Magnotta Pzazz N/V Merlot Cab Limited Edition, Ontario
Mt. Boucherie 2020 Summit, British Columbia
Nk’Mip Cellars 2021 Winemakers Talon
Nostalgia Wines 2020 Meritage, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nostalgia Wines 2022 Rockabilly Red, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Organized Crime 2020 Pipe Down, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Peller Estates 2021 Signature Series Estate Red, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Pentâge Winery 2018 GSM Dirty Dozen Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Road 13 2022 Honest John’s Bold Red, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stag’s Hollow 2020 Renaissance Meritage Stag’s Hollow Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stratus 2020 White Label Red, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2021 Meritage, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Three Sisters Winery 2022 Bench Red, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Two Sisters Vineyards 2020 Eleventh Post, Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Wayne Gretzky 2022 Signature Series Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Riesling

Platinum Medal

Thirty Bench 2021 Small Lot Riesling Wood Post Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Gold Medal

Henry of Pelham 2023 Speck Family Reserve Riesling, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Niagara 2022 Discovery Series Susse Reserve Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
La Frenz Winery 2022 Riesling 21B Freedom 75 Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lailey Winery 2022 Off-Dry Riesling Lailey Vineyard, Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Lake Breeze 2023 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Megalomaniac Wines 2021 Narcissist Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Organized Crime 2023 Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Peak Cellars 2022 Estate Grown Block 11 Riesling, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate 2022 Clone 49 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate 2023 Clone 49 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Storm Haven 2022 Riesling Boulders, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Synchromesh 2023 Dry Riesling Storm Haven Vineyard White Label, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tantalus Vineyards 2021 Old Vines Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Thirty Bench 2021 Small Lot Riesling Triangle Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Two Sisters Vineyards 2021 Riesling , Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Van Westen 2022 Viscous, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Rosé

Platinum Medal

Fresh N/V Rosé, Ontario

Gold Medal

Culmina 2023 Saignée, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Fox&Archer 2022 Unfiltered Saignée, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Mercator Vineyards 2023 Compass Rosé, Nova Scotia
Tinhorn Creek 2023 Reserve Rosé, Okanagan Valley, British Colu

Sauvignon Blanc

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

Peller Estates 2022 Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Sparkling Wine

Platinum Medal

Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut Rosé, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Gold Medal

Huff Estates 2021 Cuvée Peter F. Huff, Prince Edward County, Ontario
La Frenz Winery 2020 Aster Estate Grown Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lightning Rock 2021 Elysia Vineyard Blanc de Noirs, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Liquidity Wines N/V Reserve Sparkling Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Marynissen Estates 2020 Blanc de Blancs, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Noble Ridge 2018 Noble Knights McEachnie Vintage Blanc de Blanc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Noble Ridge 2019 The Pink One, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Queenston Mile Vineyard 2018 Blanc De Blanc, St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Ravine Vineyard N/V Brut, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Redstone Winery 2022 Sparkling Rosé, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Road 13 2019 Select Harvest Old Vines Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Thirty Bench N/V Sparkling Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Township 7 2020 Seven Stars Polaris, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Two Sisters Vineyards 2021 Lush Sparkling Rosé, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Syrah

Platinum Medal

Lake Breeze 2020 Cellar Series Mistral, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Gold Medal

Black Hills 2022 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Corcelettes 2021 Syrah , Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Creekside 2020 Broken Press Syrah Reserve Queenston Road Vineyard, St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fielding 2020 Syrah Lowrey Vineyard, St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
JoiRyde Winery 2022 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kismet 2021 Family Select Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Konzelmann 2022 Syrah Barrel Aged Reserve, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Laughing Stock 2021 Syrah , Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Le Vieux Pin 2022 Syrah Cuvee Violette, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Phantom Creek 2020 Kobau Vineyard Syrah, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Roche Wines 2021 Amulet Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tantalus Vineyards 2022 Syrah, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
The Wine Umbrella 2020 Co-Syrah
Tinhorn Creek 2021 Reserve Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

White Blends

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

Lake Breeze 2022 Roussanne Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Terravista Vineyards 2022 Figaro, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Terravista Vineyards 2023 Fandango, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Other White Single Varieties

Platinum Medal

No medal awarded

Gold Medal

Black Hills 2022 Roussanne, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Fort Berens 2023 Small Lot Grüner Veltliner Red Rock Vineyard, British Columbia
Peak Cellars 2022 Gruner Veltliner, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate 2022 Clone 220 Chenin Blanc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Terravista Vineyards 2023 Albariño, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

The complete list of this year’s results can be found at winealign.com/awards.

Sláinte mhaith

2024 All Canadian Wine Championships

June 22, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / 2 Comments

The All Canadian Wine Championships (ACWC) were held earlier this month. It is open to all Canadian licensed wineries, cideries and meaderies and content must be grown and made in Canada. This year there were 995 entries submitted by 173 wineries.

The panel of judges consisted of wine writers, sommeliers, and professional wine judges from the Wine Judges of Ontario. There were 10 judges from Ontario, 2 from Alberta and 1 from each of Quebec and New Brunswick.

The 2024 trophy winners were as follows:

The Best Sparkling Wine of the Year was presented to British Columbia’s (BC) Bench 1775 Winery, for their 2020 Blanc de Blanc ($39.75 CDN).

The Best Red Wine of the Year was BC’s Sunrock Vineyard’s 2021 Shiraz ($40.24 CDN).

The Best White Wine of the Year was awarded to BC’s Van Westen Vineyards, for their 2022 Viscous ($27.40 CDN).

The Best Dessert Wine of the Year was Quebec’s Vignoble du Marathonien, for their 2021 Vin de glace ($50.00 CDN).

The Best Rosé Wine of the Year was awarded to yet another BC winery, Hester Creek Estate Winery, for their 2023 Rosé Noir ($32.19 CDN).

The Best Fruit Wine of the Year was presented to another BC winery, Maan Farms Winery, for their N/V Raspberry Dessert ($29.99 CDN).

The Best Cider of the Year was Nova Scotia’s Domaine de Grand Pré, for their N/V Vintage Sparkling Cider ($29.00 CDN).

The Best Mead of the Year was presented to Manitoba’s Shrugging Doctor Beverage Co, for their N/V Apple Cinnamon Mead ($18.47 CDN).

Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals may be awarded in each category. Double Gold and Gold medals were presented to the following participants:

Sparkling Wine-Traditional Method

Gold

Two Sisters Vineyards, ON – 2021 Lush Sparkling Rosé – $57.80
Two Sisters Vineyards, ON – 2020 Blanc de Franc – $63.80
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, ON – N/V Brut – $44.80

Sparkling Wine–Charmat Method

Double Gold

Bella Terra Vineyards, ON – N/V Sparkling Rose – $24.95

Gold

Three Dog Winery, ON – 2023 Debut Sparkling – $27.80
Harbour Estates, ON – 2023 Sparkling Riesling – $25.00

Sparkling Wine–Frizzante Method

Double Gold

Planters Ridge Winery, NS – 2022 SEK – $22.43

Gold

Jost Vineyards, NS – N/V Luvo Sparkling White – $5.89

Chardonnay, Unoaked

Double Gold

Calamus Estate Winery, ON – 2023 Unoaked Chardonnay – $18.95

Gold

Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, ON – 2023 Select Series Unoaked Chardonnay – $15.95

Chardonnay Under $35.00

Double Gold

Wending Home, ON – 2021 Chardonnay Estate Vineyards – $34.95

Gold

Chaberton Estate Winery, BC – 2022 Barrel Aged Chardonnay – $27.05
Solvero Wines, BC – 2022 Chardonnay – $34.60
Magnotta Winery, ON – 2020 G. Marquis Chardonnay VQA – The Silver Line – $19.75

Chardonnay Over $35.00

Double Gold

Nk’Mip Cellars BC – 2022 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay – $41.39

Gold

Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, ON – 2022 Premium Series Barrel Fermented Chardonnay – $49.95
SpearHead Winery, BC – 2022 Chardonnay Clone 95 – $41.40

Riesling Dry

Double Gold

Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery, BC – 2023 Riesling Dry – $28.74

Gold

Broken Stone Winery, ON – 2023 Riesling – $21.75

Riesling Off Dry

Gold

Gaspereau Vineyards, NS – 2023 Riesling – $23.79
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, ON – 2020 Riesling Loved By Lu – $18.75

Sauvignon Blanc

Double Gold

Dirty Laundry Vineyard, BC – 2023 Sauvignon Blanc – $25.29

Gold

River Stone Estate Winery, BC – 2023 Sauvignon Blanc – $27.49
Alderlea Vineyards, BC – 2023 Sauvignon Blanc – $27.60

Gewürztraminer

Double Gold

Wild Goose Vineyards, BC – 2023 Gewürztraminer – $19.99

Gold

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, ON – 2022 Gewürztraminer – $20.75
Chaberton Estate Winery, BC – 2023 Gewürztraminer – $21.80

Pinot Gris Style

Double Gold

Alderlea Vineyards, BC – 2023 Pinot Gris – $26.45

Gold

Hillside Winery & Bistro, BC – 2023 Unoaked Pinot Gris – $25.00
River Stone Estate Winery, BC – 2023 Pinot Gris – $27.49
Villa Romana Estate Winery, ON – 2023 Pinotino – $24.95

Pinot Grigio Style

Double Gold

Kismet Estate Winery, BC – 2023 Pinot Grigio – $26.44

Gold

Three Dog Winery, ON – 2023 Pinot Grigio – $19.75
Inniskillin Okanagan Estate, BC – 2023 Okanagan Estate Pinot Grigio – $20.69

Viognier

Double Gold

Hester Creek Estate Winery, BC – 2023 Viognier – $27.59

Gold

Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Winery, BC – 2023 Viognier – $21.90

Other Single Vitis Vinifera Whites

Double Gold

Scorched Earth Winery, BC – 2023 Pinot Noir Blanc – $22.95

Gold

Wild Goose Vineyards, BC – 2023 Pinot Blanc – $21.99
Bonamici Cellars Ltd., BC – 2022 Observatory Gruner Veltliner – $28.74

White Vitis Vinifera Blends

Double Gold

Nk’Mip Cellars, BC – 2022 White Mer’r’iym – $41.39

Gold

Hillside Winery & Bistro, BC – 2023 Chef’s Whites – $35.00
Alderlea Vineyards, BC – 2023 Valerie – $26.45
River Stone Estate Winery, BC – 2023 Splash – $26.34

Single White Hybrids

Double Gold

Monte Creek Winery, BC – 2023 Living Land Frontenac Gris – $25.29

Gold

Planters Ridge Winery, NS – 2022 L’Acadie – $18.52
Valley of the Springs, BC – 2023 Epicure – $25.30

White Hybrid Blends

Double Gold

Monte Creek Winery, BC – 2023 Hands Up White – $22.99

Gold

Forbidden Fruit Winery, BC – 2023 Dead End Skrewd – $25.00

Pet Nat

Double Gold

Bench 1775, BC – 2022 Blanc de Blanc Ancestral – $39.99

Gold

Trail Estate Winery, ON – 2022 White Pét Nat – $36.00

Orange Wines

Double Gold

Byland Estate Winery, ON – 2021 Skin Fermented White Chardonnay – $28.00

Gold

Last House Vineyard, ON – 2021 Electrum – $29.00

Rosés Dry

Gold

Creekside Estate Winery Ltd., ON – 2023 Rosé – $15.95
Chaberton Estate WInery, BC – 2023 La Fleur de Chaberton – $27.55
Lakeview Wine Co., ON – N/V 20 Bees Rosé – $13.95

Rosés Off Dry

Double Gold

Gaspereau Vineyards, NS – 2022 Rosé – $23.79

Gold

Richibucto River Wine Estate, NB – 2020 Camrose – $16.63
Chaberton Estate Winery, BC – 2023 Chaberton Pink – $21.80
Three Sisters Winery, BC – 2023 Rosé – $25.00

Cabernet Sauvignon Under $35

Double Gold

Chaberton Estate Winery, BC – 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon – $31.00

Gold

Paglione Estate Winery, ON – 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon – $21.95

Cabernet Sauvignon Over $35.00

Double Gold

Colio Estate Wines, ON – 2020 Small Lot Series Cabernet Sauvignon – $40.00

Gold

Kismet Estate Winery, BC – 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – $68.99

Merlot Under $35

Double Gold

Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery, BC – 2020 Merlot – $33.34

Gold

Nk’Mip Cellars, BC – 2021 Winemaker’s Merlot – $34.49
Alderlea Vineyards, BC – 2020 Merlot – $32.20

Merlot Over $35.00

Double Gold

Wesbert Winery, BC – 2021 Merlot – $45.94

Gold

Priest Creek Family Estate Winery, BC – 2020 Merlot – $52.90
De Simone Vineyards, ON – 2021 Merlot – $59.80

Pinot Noir Under $35

Double Gold

The Grange of Prince Edward, ON – 2022 County Pinot Noir – $34.00

Gold

Cherry Point Estate Wines, BC – 2022 Pinot Noir – $32.90
Inniskillin Okanagan Estate, BC – 2022 Okanagan Estate Pinot Noir – $25.29

Pinot Noir Over $35.00

Double Gold

Wending Home, ON – 2020 “Up Above” Pinot Noir – $42.95

Gold

Solvero Wines, BC – 2020 Pinot Noir – $40.35
SpearHead Winery, BC – 2022 Pinot Noir Okanagan Valley – $41.40

Cabernet Franc Under $35

Double Gold

Inniskillin Okanagan Estate, BC – 2022 Okanagan Estate Cabernet Franc – $29.89

Gold

Monte Creek Winery, BC – 2022 Living Land Cabernet Franc – $31.04
Three Sisters Winery, BC – 2022 Cabernet Franc – $30.00

Cabernet Franc Over $35.00

Double Gold

Watchful Eye Winery, ON – 2021 Cabernet Franc Reserve – $41.95

Gold

Privato Vineyard and Winery, BC – 2022 Cabernet Franc – $40.24
Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Winery, BC – 2020 Cabernet Franc Reserve – $49.90

Bordeaux Blends Under $35

Double Gold

Bench 1775, BC – 2021 Groove – $22.75

Gold

Clos du Soleil Winery, BC – 2021 Celestiale – $34.39
Sunrock, BC – 2020 Red Meritage – $34.49
Magnotta Winery, ON – 2019 Meritage Gran Riserva -$ 31.95

Bordeaux Blends Over $35.00

Double Gold

Moraine Winery, BC – 2021 Meritage – $42.00

Gold

Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery Inc., BC – 2019 Right Bank – $57.49
Colio Estate Wines, ON – 2020 Small Lot Series Meritage – $40.00
Hainle Vyds Estate Winery Ltd., BC – 2022 Hainle’s Red Cuvee – $40.24

Syrah/Shiraz Under $35

Double Gold

Oxley Estate Winery, ON – 2020 Syrah Reserve – $32.95

Gold

Terralux Estate Winery, BC – 2018 Syrah – $34.99

Syrah/Shiraz Over $35.00

Gold

Nk’Mip Cellars, BC – 2020 Qwam Qwmt Syrah – $49.44
Moon Curser Vineyards, BC – 2022 Syrah – $37.94

Single Red Hybrids

Double Gold

Potter Settlement Artisan Winery, ON – 2020 Frontenac Rouge – $35.00

Gold

Front Road Cellars, ON – 2022 Marquette Canadian Oak – $23.95
Magnetic Hill Winery, NB – 2023 Terroir Generator TP 1-1-12 – $30.00

Red Hybrid Blends

Double Gold

Jost Vineyards, NS – N/V Luvo Simply Red – $5.89

Gold

Monte Creek Winery, BC – 2022 Hands Up Red – $25.29
De Simone Vineyards, ON – 2023 De Simone Red – $24.80

Other Single Red Vitis Vinifera

Double Gold

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery, BC – 2022 King’s Ransom Touriga Nacional – $74.75

Gold

Bonamici Cellars Ltd., BC – 2022 Sangiovese – $36.80

Other Red Vitis Vinifera Blends

Double Gold

Hester Creek Estate Winery, BC – 2022 GSM – $39.19

Gold

Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, ON – 2023 Select Series Cabernet – $15.95
Nk’Mip Cellars, BC – 2021 Winemaker’s Talon – $37.99

Marechal Foch

Double Gold

Alderlea Vineyards,BC – 2022 Clarinet – $27.60

Gold

Skimmerhorn Winery, BC – 2022 Estate Reserve Foch – $31.00

Malbec

Double Gold

Nostalgia Wines Inc., BC – 2020 Malbec – $42.00

Gold

Moon Curser Vineyards, BC – 2022 Malbec – $43.69

Gamay

Double Gold

Deep Roots Winery, BC – 2022 Reserve Gamay – $34.90

Gold

Deep Roots Winery, BC – 2022 Gamay – $25.90
Monte Creek Winery, BC – 2022 Living Land Gamay – $33.34

Appassimento Style

Double Gold

De Simone Vineyards, ON – 2019 Stallion – $154.80

Gold

Magnotta Winery, ON – 2020 Enotrium Gran Riserva – $59.75

FRUIT WINES

Soft Fruit Dry

Double Gold

Black Bear Farms of Ontario Estate Winery, ON – 2015 Black Currant – $30.00

Gold

Black Bear Farms of Ontario Estate Winery, ON – N/V Red Raspberry & Red Currant – $20.00

Soft Fruit Off-Dry

Double Gold

Maan Farms Winery, BC – 2022 Raspberry Table – $23.08

Gold

Maan Farms Winery, BC – 2023 Strawberry Rhubarb – $22.51
Applewood Farm Winery, ON – 2021 Trio – $18.00

Soft Fruit Dessert

Gold

Maan Farms Winery, BC – N/V Blackberry Dessert – $29.99

Tree Fruit Dry

Double Gold

Muskoka Lakes Winery, ON – 2022 Georgian Bay Rose – $18.75

Gold

Forbidden Fruit Winery, BC – 2023 Speachless White Peach – $22.00

Tree Fruit Off Dry

Double Gold

Forbidden Fruit Winery, BC – 2023 Cherysh Cherry Rose – $22.00

Gold

Shrugging Doctor Beverage Co., MB – 2022 Carmine Jewel Cherry Wine – $21.99

Tree Fruit Dessert

Double Gold

Black Bear Farms of Ontario Estate Winery, ON – 2019 Apple – $20.00

Gold

Forbidden Fruit Winery, BC – 2023 Pomme Desiree Iced Apple – $28.00

Fruit Sparkling

Double Gold

Krause Berry Farms and Estate Winery, BC – N/V Strawberry Sparkling – $27.00

Gold

Coopérative Forestière du Nord Ouest Ltée., NB – N/V Noaska Jazzy Sparkling Red – $18.90

Fruit Fortifieds

Double Gold

La Vallée de la Framboise Inc., QC – N/V Douce Anna – $20.00

Gold

La Vallée de la Framboise Inc., QC – N/V Le Fabuleux – $20.00

DESSERT WINES

Late Harvests

Double Gold

Vignoble du Marathonien, QC – 2021 Vendange tardive sélective – $28.00

Gold

Bench 1775, BC – 2022 Paradise Ranch Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Semillon – $29.75

White Icewines (Riesling, Vidal, Other)

Gold

Magnotta Winery, ON – 2019 Riesling Icewine Niagara Peninsula Limited Edition – $39.95

Magnotta Winery, ON – 2021 Vidal Icewine Niagara Peninsula Limited Edition – $34.75

Red Icewines

Double Gold

Magnotta Winery, ON – 2019 Cabernet Franc Icewine Niagara Peninsula Limited Edition – $44.95

Gold

Lakeview Wine Co., ON – 2022 Lakeview Wine Co. Cabernet Franc Icewine – $60.00

Grape Fortified

Double Gold

Moraine Winery, BC – 2021 O’Port – $45.00

Gold

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery, BC – 2017 The Crown – $45.99

The complete listing of this year’s results is available from the All Canadian Wine Championships website at https://allcanadianwinechampionships.com/acwc-2024-results

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Arterra Wines Canada

April 6, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

The name Arterra Wines has come up in discussion in a couple of my blog posts in the past regarding their acquisitions within the wine industry. So, it seems to be a good time to investigate and find out more about Arterra Wines.

According to the Arterra Wines Canada website, their mission is, “To build wine brands people love”. Their origins date back to 1874 when the Niagara Falls Wine Company was founded. In 1994 they became known as Vincor International. In 2006, Vincor was acquired by Constellation Brands, a U.S.-based company that is both a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits. Finally, in 2016, the Canadian branch of Constellation Brands was acquired by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and became Arterra Wines Canada.

With many iconic and recognized wine brands, Arterra is developing and expanding their wine portfolio to provide Canadians from coast-to-coast with the opportunity to enjoy and experience wines made both in Canada and from renowned wine-making regions around the world.

Arterra owns and operates Wine Rack retail stores in Ontario, as well as sells wine kits and products for winemaking at RJS Craft Winemaking.

Here is the timeline of important events that have taken place throughout the life of Arterra Wines:

1874

Niagara Falls Wine Company was founded.

1911

Niagara Falls Wine Company renamed T.G. Bright & Co. Limited.

1975

Inniskillin is given the first Canadian winery license since 1929 in Ontario, making it the first estate winery in Canada.

1986

T.G. Bright & Co. Limited acquires Jordan & Ste-Michelle Cellars Limited.

1989

Don Triggs and Alan Jackson, with a group of employees and investors, purchase Cartier Wines from John Labatt Limited.

1992

Cartier Wines acquires Inniskillin.

1993

Jackson-Triggs brand launches.

1994

T.G. Bright & Co. changes its name to become Vincor International Inc.

2000

Acquisition of Sumac Ridge, one of B.C.’s first wineries, and See Ya Later Ranch (formerly Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards) in the Okanagan, B.C.

2001

NK’Mip Cellars Inc. in B.C. becomes first Aboriginal winery thanks to the joint venture with Osoyoos Indian Band and Vincor International.
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery opens.

2003

Acquisition of Kim Crawford Wines of Auckland, New Zealand.

2005

Naked Grape brand launches.

2006

Vincor International is acquired by Constellation Brands.

2009

Open Wine brand launches in Ontario (and later in B.C. in 2011).

2012

Vincor International starts operating under the Constellation Brands name.

2013

Bodacious brand wine launches.

2016

Constellation Brands is acquired by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

2017

The name is changed to Arterra Wines Canada.

2019

Acquisition of Culmina Family Estate Winery in B.C.s Okanagan Valley.
After stopping production in 2016, Jordan, Ontario’s Le Clos Jordanne wines were re-established.

2020

Acquisition of Sandbanks Winery, Prince Edward County, Ontario (see March 8, 2020 post, The Shifting of Sandbanks).
Acquisition of Tom Gore Vineyards and the trademark rights to Paso Creek, Revolution, Vintage Ink and R.H. Phillips.

2021

Acquisition of Vin First, a Canadian canning and Tetra™ packaging company, specializing in the beverage alcohol industry.

2023

New location for Le Clos Jordanne on Niagara’s Beamsville Bench.
Acquisition of Angels Gate Winery and Kew Winery, Niagara, Ontario.
Acquisition of Champagne Palmer of Champagne, France.

How long Arterra Wines remains under the control of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and a Canadian corporation remains to be seen. Should ownership become non-Canadian in the future, a significant portion of the Canadian wine industry will hang precariously in the balance; a sobering thought.

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Millesime Sparkling Wine Company

March 30, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Millesime was a sparkling wine company in Niagara that was originally established by Frenchman Alain Girerd. He saw Niagara’s potential as a wine producing region and developed his export business from France to service Canadian winemaker’s needs. Millesime provided comprehensive solutions for traditional method sparkling wine production services such as consulting, riddling, disgorging, and packaging.

*Len Pennachetti, Harald Thiel, and Philip Dowell*

In December 2023, Millesime was purchased by two of the Niagara’s key winery owners and a veteran winemaker. Hidden Bench Winery owner Harald Thiel, Cave Spring co-founder Len Pennachetti and winemaker Philip Dowell purchased Millesime and have renamed it Niagara Sparkling Wine Service.

By acquiring Millesime and providing Ontario craft winemakers with a scalable traditional method for producing sparkling wine, they feel they can ensure and expand the growth of premium sparkling wine production in Ontario. Winemaker Dowell, the operating partner of Niagara Sparkling Wine Service, has been crafting benchmark traditional method sparkling wine for more than 20 years and provides sparkling wine consulting services to the industry on an as needed basis. Dowell was most recently the winemaker at Kew Vineyards and Angels Gate prior to their being purchased by Arterra Wines Canada.

Millesime was originally sold by its founder, Alain Girerd to John Young, who was then president at Angels Gate Winery. Dowell and Young operated the company as the full-service facility as it was envisioned by Girerd until Arterra purchased Angels Gate Winery and left Millesime dormant. The purchase by Thiel, Pennachetti and Dowell from Young got the idle sparkling wine production facility back in operation to the relief of wineries who had their wines tied up during the transition.

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The Evolution of Irish Whiskey

March 23, 2024 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Ireland, the former whiskey capital of the world which dominated whiskey sales into the early 20^th Century, quickly fell from grace due to several reasons. First, people were starting to prefer blended whiskies rather than the traditional single malts and single pot varieties. The Irish, however, chose to ignore this market trend and saw reduced sales as a result. Second, the American Prohibition negatively impacted sales, given that 60% of U.S. whiskey sales came from Ireland. Finally, internal conflict in the 1920s within Ireland itself and the subsequent trade war with Britain a few years later left the Irish Whiskey trade in a dismal state. By the 1970s the number of whiskey distilleries had been reduced to just two – Bushmills and New Midleton, which were both owned by the same company.

Fast forwarding to the period between 1990 and 2010, the Irish Whiskey industry experienced a resurgence, making it the fastest growing liquor industry. Today there are more than 40 distilleries throughout Ireland and more being added; the choices are becoming overwhelming. So today I will take you through a list of what many experts agree are many of the best Irish whiskeys on the market. Included are a couple of my personal favourites.

Before reviewing the list, it’s important to keep in mind that there are four styles of Irish Whiskey: Single Pot Still, Single Malt, Single Grain and Blended. Keep in mind that “Single” in the title refers to a single distillery, it is not a descriptor for the words following after.

SINGLE POT STILL

This was once the most common way to make whiskey but had become almost nonexistent by the end of the 20th Century. There has been somewhat of a resurgence in recent years. The single pot still variety originally came about during the 1700s as a way to avoid taxes imposed on malted barley.

The classification states that the whiskey must be made from a single distillery, distilled in pot stills from a mashbill that contains at least 30% malted barley and 30% unmalted barley, with up to 5% of other cereal grains. Pot still whiskey is noticeably spicier and creamier than other styles.

Recommended single pot style whiskies include:

Powers John’s Lane

$76 at LCBO

Because of its 200 year history, Powers has a reputation for being mainstream though it is actually a lesser-known label. It is named after the location of its old distillery, where it held production beginning in the early 1800s until 1975. The whiskey is aged in bourbon barrels and finished in Oloroso sherry casks creating flavours of leather, tobacco, wood, dark chocolate and toffee.

Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength

$120 at LCBO

Redbreast has several popular expressions, but the 12 Year Old Cask Strength is arguably its most popular. At 116 proof, this whiskey provides flavours of oak, buttery pears, cinnamon apple, baking spices, caramel and vanilla.

I have tried Redbreast but I personally have never found it too endearing.

Green Spot

$88 at LCBO

Not appearing on the experts’ list, but one of my own personal favourites is Mitchell and Sons Green Spot. The whiskey has matured in a combination of first and second fill bourbon casks as well as sherry casks. It has flavours of green apples, honey and cinnamon spice. To me this whiskey provides good value for the price.

SINGLE MALT

Single malt Irish whiskey must be made in a single distillery, distilled in pot stills from a mashbill composed entirely of malted barley. Single malt is noticeably smoother than the single pot still style.

Recommended single malt style whiskies include:

The Sexton

$50 at LCBO

Contained within a unique hexagonal bottle, The Sexton single malt has the appearance and taste of a good quality spirit even though it has a very affordable price; the least expensive in this list. Aged for four years in casks previously used for Oloroso sherry, the whiskey has a silky profile of oak, fruit, honeycomb and a hint of spice.

Overall, I like The Sexton although I often favour a whiskey with a little more complexity in flavour. If I am looking for a mindless dram to relax with, this is a good one.

Bushmills 21 Year

$264 at LCBO

Bushmills is the oldest licensed distillery in the world, successfully enduring the near extinction of Irish whiskey in the 1970s as one of two remaining distilleries. The 21 Year single malt is Bushmills’ premier expression, triple distilled and aged for 19 years in either former Oloroso sherry casks or bourbon barrels and then finished for an extra two years in Madeira casks. The result is a big flavour profile of fig, mango, caramel, cherry and apricot, all ending with a sweet finish.

SINGLE GRAIN

Single grain whiskey refers to any whiskey distilled in a column still rather than a pot still. Its mashbill can also be no more than 30% malted barley. The result is something with higher alcohol content, yet is less flavourful. As a result, single grain whiskey is largely used for blended varieties rather than bottled by itself, although there are some exceptions.

Recommended single grain style whiskies include:

Teeling Single Grain

Opening in 2015, Teeling is the first new distillery in Dublin in 125 years. However, Teeling was originally opened in 1782, closing in 1923. The current owners possess the Teeling family name. They put out one of the most versatile ranges of Irish whiskeys, including the rare single grain, which I unfortunately could find no reference to at the LCBO. It is made with a corn-dominant mashbill where it’s then aged in former Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels creating a profile that ranges from cranberries to butterscotch to the typical sweetness of bourbon whiskey.

Method & Madness Single Grain

Method & Madness is part of the micro-distillery offshoot at New Midleton Distillery. It was launched a few years ago and has an outside the box approach to the aging process. The brand came up with a single grain spirit that’s aged in first-fill bourbon barrels and finished in virgin Spanish oak. The result is a flavourful single grain whiskey with hints of oak, spice and grapefruit. Unfortunately, this whiskey is not available for sale in Ontario.

BLENDED

The driving force behind blended whiskey is that it is a good way to produce the spirit while keeping costs lower. Blended whiskey combines two or more of the previous styles, usually a higher quality liquor with a lower quality one. Most mainstream Irish Whiskeys, such as Jameson and Tullamore Dew, are of the blended variety.

Writers’ Tears

$60 at LCBO

Writers’ Tears is produced by Walsh Whiskey. This blended spirit combines single pot still and single malt varieties. Aged in American bourbon barrels, the whiskey possesses flavours of lemon, honey, black pepper and floral notes.

I have tried Writers’ Tears a few times and have found the flavour to be light and subtle. It is a good choice for anyone new to the whiskey scene.

Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Cask Strength

Jameson, one of Ireland’s most renowned distilleries, put out its rarest release in 2018 and has done so once a year since. The historic Bow Street distillery operated for nearly 200 years until it closed in 1976 and was later turned into a museum, which I have visited. Jameson’s Bow Street 18 Year Cask Strength is claimed to be the king of all blended whiskies, combining both pot still and grain varieties. This expression has flavours of toffee, oak, vanilla and sherry, as well as notes of leather.

This particular Jameson rendition is unfortunately not available in Ontario.

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