The Ontario Wine Awards were handed out last in Niagara-on-the-Lake at a gala event hosted by Tony Aspler and attended by winemakers, industry and wine writers.
The wines were judged over two weekends at the Crush Wine Bar in Toronto in April. Full disclosure: I was a judge for one of the weekends but could not attend the awards gala on Friday night. The photos in this post are from the judging at Crush.
Here are the awards that were presented in each category.
Sparkling Wine
Gold : Huff Estates 2010 Cuvee Peter F Huff
Silver: Colio Estate Wines N/V Lily Sparkling
Bronze: Konzelmann Estate Winery N/V Methode Cuve Close Rosé
Riesling Dry
Gold: Thirty Bench Vineyards 2013 Riesling
Silver: Stanners Vineyard 2012 Riesling
Bronze: Two Sisters Vineyards 2013 Riesling
Bronze: Flatrock Cellars 2014 Nadja’s Vineyard
Riesling Semi-Dry
Gold: Flatrock Cellars 2014 Riesling
Silver: Vieni Estates 2013 Riesling Semi Dry
Bronze: Kacaba Vineyards 2014 Reserve Riesling
Pinot Blanc\Pinot Gris
Gold: Konzelmann Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Blanc
Silver: Konzelmann Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Grigio
Silver: Kacaba Vineyards 2014 Jennifer’s Pinot Gris
(No bronze in this category)
Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Gold: Peller Estates Winery 2013 AP Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc
Silver: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2013 Balance Sauvignon Blanc
Bronze: Jackson Triggs 2013 Grand Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Cabernet Franc
Gold: Thirty Bench Vineyards 2012 Small Lot Cabernet Franc
Silver: Trius Winery 2012 Showcase Red Shale Cabernet Franc
Bronze: Pillitteri Estates Winery 2012 Exclamation Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Gold: Kacaba Vineyards 2010 Reserve Merlot
Silver: Thirty Bench Vineyards 2012 Small Lot Merlot
Bronze: Jackson Triggs 2012 Grand Reserve Merlot
Pinot Noir
Gold: Huff Estates 2013 Pinot Noir
Silver: Domaine Queylus 2012 Pinot Noir
Bronze: Stanners Vineyard 2012 Pinot Noir VQA Four Mile Creek
Oaked Chardonnay, Over $20
Gold: 16 Mile Cellar 2011 Civility Chardonnay
Silver: Huff Estates 2012 South Bay Chardonnay Bronze: The Foreign Affair Winery 2010 Chardonnay
Bronze: Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery 2013 Chardonnay
Gewurztraminer
Gold: Trius Winery 2013 Showcase Outlier Gewurztraminer
Silver: Thirty Bench Vineyards 2013 Small Lot Gewurztraminer
Bronze: Pillitteri Estates Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer
Oaked Chardonnay, Under $20
Gold: Flatrock Cellars 2012 Chardonnay
Silver: Magnotta Winery 2013 Magnotta Chardonnay Limited Edition
Bronze: Keint-he Winery & Vineyards 2013 Voyageur Chardonnay
Rose/Blanc de Noir
Gold: Henry of Pelham Estate Winery 2014 Rosé
Silver: Flatrock Cellars 2014 Pink Twisted
Bronze: John Howard Cellars of Distinction 2014 Rosé
Unoaked Chardonnay
Gold: Konzelmann Estate Winery 2013 Chardonnay Unoaked
Silver: Kacaba Vineyards 2014 Unoaked Chardonnay
Bronze: Two Sisters Vineyards 2013 Unoaked Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold: Trius Winery 2012 Showcase East Block Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver: Thirty Bench Vineyards 2012 Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze: Green Lane Estate Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah/Shiraz
Gold: Jackson Triggs 2012 Delaine Syrah
Gold: Magnotta Winery 2013 Magnotta Shiraz Limited Edition
Bronze: Jackson Triggs 2012 Grand Reserve Shiraz
Hybrid Reds (Marechal Foch, Baco Noir
Gold: Pelee Island Winery 2013 Baco Noir Rreserve
Silver: Hernder Estates Winery 2012 Baco Noir
Bronze: Henry of Pelham Estate Winery 2013 Baco Noir
Bronze: Sandbanks Estate Winery 2013 Baco Noir Reserve
Meritage and Cabernet/Merlot blends
Gold: Thirty Bench Vineyards 2012 Benchmark Red
Silver: Calamus Estate Winery 2012 Meritage
Bronze: Wayne Gretzky Estate Winery 2012 Estate Series Cabernet Merlot
Gamay
Gold: Vieni Estates 2012 Gamay Noir
Silver: The Thirteenth Street Wine Company 2013 Gamay Noir Sandstone Vineyard
Silver: Chateau des Charmes 2013 Gamay Noir, Estate Bottled
(no bronze)
Late Harvest Whites
Gold: Peller Estates Winery 2013 Private Reserve Late Harvest Vidal
Silver: Pillitteri Estates Winery 2014 Select Late Harvest Vidal
Bronze: Trius Winery 2013 Showcase Late Harvest Vidal
Icewine – Vidal
Gold: Chateau des Charmes 2012 Vidal Icewine, Estate Bottled
Gold: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery 2012 Vidal Icewine
Bronze: Konzelmann Estate Winery 2010 Vidal icewine
Bronze: Jackson Triggs 2012 Grand Reserve Vidal Icewine
Bronze: Marynissen Estates 2013 Vidal
Bronze: Inniskillin Wines Inc 2013 Vidal Icewine
Icewine – Vinifera
Gold: Inniskillin Wines 2012 Riesling Icewine
Silver: Hinterbrook Estate Winery 2012 Cabernet Franc Icewine
Bronze: Vieni Estates 2011 Cabernet Icewine
Bronze: Willow Springs Winery 2012 Riesling Icewine
Bronze: Jackson Triggs 2013 Grand Reserve Cabernet Franc Icewine
Other Dry Whites
Gold: Inniskillin Wines Inc 2013 Reserve Viognier
Silver: Cornerstone Estate 2011 Stoned White
Bronze: Pillitteri Estates Winery 2013 Viognier
Other Reds
Gold: The Foreign Affair Winery 2012 Petit Verdot
Silver: Kacaba Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Syrah
Bronze: EastDell Estates 2011 Black Label Cabernet Shiraz
Bronze: Inniskillin Wines Inc 2012 Reserve Shiraz Cabernet
Appassimento Red (full or partial blend)
Gold: Pillitteri Estates Winery 2010 Riserva Famiglia Cabernet Franc Appassimento
Silver: Reif Estate Winery 2012 Kiln Dried Syrah
Bronze: Angels Gate Winery 2012 Bin XCV
Congratulations to all the winners. Many of which are in my cellar.
correction
Sue Ann Staff also won GOLD for her 2012 Vidal Icewine ,
wow!
Steve, Trying to confirm that potential error, but I got the results directly from Tony Aspler. Will fix it as soon as I hear from him.
Rick,
Can you give us an idea of how many Ontario Wineries Did Not participate ??
Some of the winners, although all quality producers seem a bit repetitive.
Thanks!
Only Tony Aspler would have that information, I only know what I saw when judging and there were upwards of 20-30 different wines in each flight. Some had more, some had less, but the vast majority did not receive a medal. I know of a few wineries who do not participate in the awards purely because they don’t like wine competitions and a few others who are too small to bother with the expense and/or sell out all their wine every vintage.
I’m here visiting from Alberta. Looking for a Foch wine. Does anyone have stock? Cjwilsonenterprises@hotmail.com
Only one I know of is Malivoire winery’s Old Vine Foch.