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The results are in for the 2016 Ontario Wine Awards

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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