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Ontario Wine Awards: The gala, the colour, the winners

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By Michael Lowe

At the 18th annual Ontario Wines Awards Gala, held Friday night at Queen’s Landing in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a handful of Niagara wineries took home multiple awards. Attendees blind-tasted  some of the gold medal winning wines paired with a delicious four-course menu prepared by Chef Randy Dupuis.

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Goat cheese and purple potato terrine (all photos by Michael Lowe).
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Game hen with Asian bean 'cassoulet'

Although there were plenty of bronze and silver awards distributed among the top five recipients, Creekside Estates Winery took the most gold with four out of the five received. In addition, Creekside head winemaker Rob Power (top photo) was awarded the Larry Paterson “Innovation in the Vineyard Award.”

Inniskillin took six awards in all, of which three were gold, including a double win for the 2008 Riesling icewine which also grabbed the white wine of the year award.

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Bruce Nicholson of Inniskillin.

In terms of total number of awards, Malivoire took home seven with their only gold going to  the 2010 Old Vines Foch. There was no gold given for the gamay this year but Malivoire managed two bronze awards in the category.  Vineland Estates Winery stayed true to its heritage by picking up two golds in riesling categories.

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Allan Schmidt, left, of Vineland Estates.

Other multiple award winners were Henry of Pelham with five and Colaneri with four. Colaneri’s winemaker, Andrzej Lipinski was also the recipient of the “Winemaker of the Year” award.

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Andrzej Lipinski of Colaneri.

The Wine Journalism Award went to Michael Pinkus, head writer for the Ontario Wine Review.           

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Michael Pinkus.

Other noteworthy wins were Coyote’s Run’s gold in the Pinot Noir category and Cattail Creek’s double win in the meritage/cabernet-merlot blend category. Cattail’s 2007 Reserve Cabernet Merlot also picked up the award for red wine of the year.

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David Sheppard (left) of Coyote's Run.
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Roselyn Dyck of Cattail Creek.

Ontario Wine Award Gold Awards

Sparkling Wine – Grange of Prince Edward County 2008 Brut

Dry Riesling – Vineland Estates 2009 Dry Riesling

Semi-Dry Riesling – Vineland Estates 2009 St. Urban Riesling

Dry White Varietal – Creekside Estate 2010 Viognier Reserve

Gewurztraminer – Konzelmann Estate 2010 Gewurztraminer Late Harvest

Pinot Blanc / Pinot Gris – Henry of Pelham Family Estate 2011 Pinot Grigio

Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon –
Creekside Estate 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve

Oaked Chardonnay (under $20) — Inniskillin 2010 Winemaker’s Series Montague Vineyard Chardonnay

Oaked Chardonnay (over $20) – Tie for Gold
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2009 Dean’s List Chardonnay
Exultet Estates 2010 The Blessed Chardonnay

Unoaked Chardonnay – Chateau des Charmes 2010 Chardonnay Musque

Rosé / Blanc de Noir — Sue-Ann Staff Estate 2011 Rosé

Gamay – No Gold Awarded

Pinot Noir – Coyote’s Run Estate 2009 Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Noir

Red Hybrid – Malivoire Wine Company 2010 Old Vines Foch

Cabernet Sauvignon – No Gold Awarded

Cabernet Franc – Lailey Vineyard 2010 Cabernet Franc – unfiltered

Merlot – Tawse 2008 David’s Block Merlot

Syrah/Shiraz –
Creekside Estate 2008 Broken Press Syrah Reserve

Meritage and Cabernet/Merlot Blends – Cattail Creek Estate 2007 Reserve Series Cabernet Merlot
Also took Red Wine of the Year Award

Late Harvest – Konzelmann Estate 2010 Special Select Late Harvest Vidal

Vidal Icewine – Inniskillin 2007 Oak Aged Vidal Icewine

Vinifera Icewine – Inniskillin 2008 Riesling Icewine
Also took White Wine of the Year Award

Blended Red Award – 
Creekside Estate 2010 Cabernet Shiraz

Blended White Award – Henry of Pelham Family Estate 2010 Family Tree White

Best Label Design Award –  Diamond Estates – The Winery 2010 NHL Alumni Hat Trick

Larry Paterson Innovation in the Vineyard Award —
Rob Power, Creekside Estate Winery

Winemaker of the Year — Andrzej Lipinski, Colaneri Estate Winery

Wine Journalism Award —
Michael Pinkus – ontariowinereview.com