After judging 467 Ontario wines, it was finally time to reveal the winners of the 22nd Ontario Wine Awards on Wednesday in Niagara.
I was not able to attend the awards show due to other commitments, but I do have this news release submitted by organizers to Wines In Niagara that includes all the winners.
It is presented here unedited.
The 22nd year of the Ontario Wine Awards showed just how dynamic the contemporary Ontario wine industry is across the province – from the large companies to the boutique and garagiste producers.
This year the awards ceremony was held at Niagara College and their Benchmark Restaurant, hosted by the celebrity chef and TV personality, Michael Bonacini.
Special guests this year were Lord Mayor Darte, Mayor of the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Dr. Dan Patterson, President of Niagara College, who both rose to say a few words to the audience. During the awards reception, held at Benchmark Restaurant, guests were treated to a selection of Gold Medal-Winning wines, along with savoury appetizers prepared by the student chefs at the Canadian Food & Wine Institute at Niagara College.
This year, with 467 wine submissions from 71 wineries, Tony Aspler, Founder of the Ontario Wine Awards and Order of Canada Recipient, announced, “It’s really exciting to see new wineries taking medals at this year’s Ontario Wine Awards. This year’s results show many new names to consumers who are guided by the expertise of our judges.”
The Ontario Wine Awards recognize VQA varietal quality in 25 different categories such as Dry Riesling and Cabernet Franc, and acknowledge winners in Bronze, Silver and Gold Medal levels. There are also distinctive awards given out honouring the Winemaker of the Year, White Wine of the Year, Red Wine of the Year, Wine Journalism Award, and Best Label Design.
In order to acknowledge both red and white varietals, there are two Wine of the Year awards, sponsored by Performance Mercedes-Benz. The Red Wine of the Year was awarded to Creekside Estate 2012 Broken Press Syrah Reserve, and the White Wine of the Year was awarded to Exultet Estates 2013 Chardonnay “the Blessed”.
The George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Winemaker of the Year award went to Craig McDonald, Trius Winery. This award recognizes the winemaker’s consistent quality production across his portfolio, successes as demonstrated by additional wine awards, and his overall contribution to the wine industry.
Aaron Saltzman, Senior Reporter, Consumer Affairs at CBC National News (Toronto) received this year’s
VQA Wines of Ontario ‘Wine Journalism Award’, which recognized his piece on The National, ‘Brits Love Our Wine’. You can view the piece here.
Tony Aspler and the iYellow Wine Club would like to announce a partnership that brings to life the Ontario Wine Awards,the best of VQA wines and Ontario Wine Week. Join us in celebrating WINETARIO on Thursday, June 16th at George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts — This is the official rebrand of the consumer portion celebration of the Ontario Wine Awards! More information can be found here.
2016 Ontario Wine Awards – Final Results
George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Winemaker of the Year Award
Craig McDonald, Trius Winery
Performance Mercedes-Benz Red Wine of the Year Award
Creekside Estate 2012 Broken Press Syrah Reserve
Performance Mercedes-Benz White Wine of the Year Award
Exultet Estates 2013 Chardonnay “the Blessed”
VQA Wines of Ontario Wine Journalism Award
Aaron Saltzman Senior Reporter, Consumer Affairs CBC National News (Toronto)
ASL Print FX Best Label Design Award
Gold: Pelee Island LOLA
Silver: Rosewood Estates 2013 Lock, Stock & Barrel
Bronze: Southbrook Vineyards Seriously Cool 2013 Red
Q water Sparkling Wine Award
Gold: Henry of Pelham N/V Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut
Silver: Thirty Bench Wine Makers N/V Sparkling Riesling
Bronze: Megalomaniac N/V Bubblehead
Quench Magazine Dry Riesling Award
Gold: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2014 Small Lot Riesling Wood Post Vineyard
Silver: Henry of Pelham 2013 Speck Family Reserve Riesling
Bronze: Vineland Estates 2014 Dry Riesling
Benchmark Restaurant Semi-Dry Riesling Award
Gold: Trius 2014 Showcase Riesling Ghost Creek Vineyard
Silver: Tawse 2013 Limestone Riesling – South Block
Bronze: Tawse 2013 Carly’s Block Riesling
Bullfrog Power Dry White Varietal Award
Gold: Kew Vineyards Estate 2014 MARSANNE
Silver: Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2015 Reserve Viognier
Bronze: Sue-Ann Staff Estate 2015 Lavelle’s Vidal
Bronze: EastDell by Diamond Estates 2014 Viognier
Bronze: Flat Rock Cellars 2014 Twisted
George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Gewurztraminer Award
Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2013 Gewurztraminer Late Harvest
Silver: Riverview Cellars Estate 2015 Angelina’s Reserve Gewurztraminer
Bronze: Colchester Ridge Estate 2014 Gewurztraminer
VIA Rail Canada Pinot Blanc\Pinot Gris Award
Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2014 Pinot Blanc
Silver: Vieni Estates 2013 Pinot Grigio Bronze: Kacaba Vineyards 2015 Jennifer’s Pinot Gris Summer Series
680 NEWS Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Award
Gold: Magnotta 2013 Sémillon Special Reserve
Silver: Peller Estates 2014 AP Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc
Bronze: Creekside Estate 2013 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Bronze: Redstone 2012 Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon
Post City Magazines Oaked Chardonnay Award — Under $20
Gold: 16 Mile Cellar 2012 Rebel Chardonnay
Silver: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2014 Marmitons Chardonnay Gastronomy
Silver: Flat Rock Cellars 2014 Chardonnay
Silver: Tawse 2013 Sketches Chardonnay
Bronze: No Bronze Awarded
Grape Growers of Ontario Oaked Chardonnay Award — Over $20
Gold: Exultet Estates 2013 Chardonnay “the Blessed”
Silver: Vieni Estates 2012 Chardonnay Private Reserve
Bronze: Exultet Estates 2014 Chardonnay “the Blessed”
Bronze: Southbrook Vineyards 2013 Estate Grown Small Lot Wild Ferment Chardonnay
Canadian Food & Wine Institute at Niagara College Unoaked Chardonnay Award
Gold: Diamond Estates 2014 McMichael Group of Seven Chardonnay
Silver: Sandbanks 2013 Shoreline White
Bronze: Marynissen Estate 2014 Unoaked Chardonnay
Niagara Airbus Rosé/Blanc de Noir Award
Gold: Rosewood Estates 2015 Gamay Rosé
Gold: Château des Charmes 2015 Rosé, Cuvée d’Andrée, Estate Bottled
Silver: No Silver Awarded
Bronze: Trius 2015 Rosé
680 NEWS Gamay Award
Gold: Château des Charmes 2014 Gamay Noir, Estate Bottled
Gold: Château des Charmes 2014 Gamay Noir ‘Droit’, St. David’s Bench Vineyard
Silver: No Silver Awarded
Bronze: Tawse 2015 Unfiltered Redfoot Vineyard Gamay Noir
Cornerstone Insurance Brokers Ltd. Pinot Noir Award
Gold: Tawse 2013 Tintern Pinot Noir
Silver: Pelee Island 2013 Pinot Noir
Bronze: Keint-he 2014 Little Creek Pinot Noir
Red Hybrid Award
Gold: No Gold Awarded
Silver: Gallucci 2014 Baco Noir
Bronze: Sandbanks 2014 Mouton Noir Foch – Baco Noir
Post City Magazines Cabernet Sauvignon Award
Gold: Southbrook Vineyards 2013 Estate Grown Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver: GreenLane Estate 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze: Kacaba Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze: Trius 2013 Showcase East Block Cabernet Sauvignon Clark Farm Vineyard
iYellow Wine Club Cabernet Franc Award
Gold: Kacaba Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Franc
Silver: Kacaba Vineyards 2012 Reserve Cabernet Franc
Bronze: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2013 Small Lot Cabernet Franc
Grapes for Humanity Merlot Award
Gold: Palatine Hills Estate 2012 Neufeld Vineyard Merlot
Gold: Trius 2012 Showcase RHS Merlot Clark Farm Vineyard
Silver: No Silver Awarded Bronze: Pillitteri Estates 2012 Winemakers Selection Exclamation Merlot
Bronze: Two Sisters Vineyards 2012 Merlot
Quench Magazine Syrah/Shiraz Award
Gold: Creekside Estate 2012 Broken Press Syrah Reserve
Silver: Redstone 2012 Syrah Red Stone Vineyard
Bronze: Kacaba Vineyards 2013 Terraced Vineyard Syrah
Allen’s Meritage and Cabernet/Merlot Blends Award
Gold: Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2012 Grand Reserve Red Meritage
Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2012 Cabernet Merlot Family Reserve
Silver: No Silver Awarded
Bronze: Creekside Estate 2013 Cabernet Merlot
Bronze: Trius 2012 Grand Red
Vintage Assessments Late Harvest Award
Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2013 Special Select Late Harvest Vidal
Silver: Pillitteri Estates 2014 Select Late Harvest Riesling
Bronze: Trius 2014 Showcase Late Harvest Vidal
Fine Wine Reserve Vidal Icewine Award
Gold: Nomad at Hinterbrook Estate 2014 Vidal Icewine
Gold: Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2013 Oak Aged Gold Vidal Icewine
Silver: No Silver Awarded
Bronze: Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2014 Sparkling Vidal Icewine
LCBO Vinifera Icewine Award
Gold: Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2014 Reserve Gewurtzraminer Icewine
Silver: Tawse 2013 Riesling Icewine
Bronze: Peller Estates 2013 AP Signature Series Riesling Icewine
Appassimento Red Award
Gold: No Gold Awarded
Silver: Magnotta 2013 Meritage Gran Riserva
Bronze: Kew Vineyards Estate 2012 HERITAGE
Bronze: Pillitteri Estates 2013 Super Niagara
Bronze: Kew Vineyards Estate 2012 SOLDIER’S GRANT
Blended Red Award
Gold: No Gold Awarded
Silver: Wayne Gretzky Estates 2013 Estate Series Shiraz Cabernet
Bronze: Trail Estate 2013 Cabernet2
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