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