The Ontario Wine Awards celebrated its 25th Anniversary competition with a record number of entries — 542 wines from 78 wineries producing VQA wines in Ontario.
“The team at the Ontario Wine Awards is privileged to have witnessed the incredible growth of the Ontario wine industry over the past 25 years — not only in the number of wineries but more importantly in the impressive growth in the quality of their products,” said the OWA’s founder, Tony Aspler.
The celebrations started on April 11 with a dinner at Niagara College’s Benchmark Restaurant to honour all the previous winners of the Winemaker of the Year Award. It was a hilarious evening hosted by Lori Love of 105.7 EZ Rock. Each winemaker was invited to stand and give a short speech confessing to their best and worst experiences making wine in Ontario.
The Awards Ceremony was held at Niagara College and their Benchmark Restaurant on June 6, hosted by stand-up comedian Joe Pillitteri whose family has a long-time connection with the Ontario wine industry.
The Ontario Wine Awards recognize VQA varietal quality in 25 different categories and acknowledge winners at Bronze, Silver and Gold Medal levels.
There are also awards of distinction 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 VINES Magazine.
The Red Wine of the Year was awarded to Trius 2016 Showcase Red Shale Cabernet Franc Clark Farm Vineyard, and the White Wine of the Year was awarded to Peller Estates 2016 Andrew Peller Signature Series Riesling.
The 105.7 EZ Rock / Newstalk 610 CKTB Winemaker of the Year award went to David Johnson, Featherstone Estate 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.
Dick Snyder, Freelance Writer, received this year’s VQA Wines of Ontario ‘Wine Journalism Award’, which recognized him for his Q&A with Ontario Winemakers in Toronto Life.
Another unique aspect of the Ontario Wine Awards’ 25th anniversary celebration is a one-time accolade in memory of the late Karl Kaiser, a legendary pioneer of the Ontario wine industry. This award is called The Karl Kaiser Winemaker Emeritus Award and was presented to Peter Gamble on June 6 for making an outstanding contribution to the Canadian wine industry over his career.
Join us in celebrating WINETARIO, the consumer arm of the Ontario Wine Awards, on June 24 at The Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts at George Brown College.
This table-top tasting will feature 16 wineries and their award-winning VQA wines from the 2019 Ontario Wine Awards.
2019 Ontario Wine Awards – Final Results
105.7 EZ Rock / Newstalk 610 CKTB Winemaker of the Year Award
David Johnson, Featherstone Estate Winery
VINES Magazine Red Wine of the Year Award
Trius 2016 Showcase Red Shale Cabernet Franc Clark Farm Vineyard
VINES Magazine White Wine of the Year Award
Peller Estates 2016 Andrew Peller Signature Series Riesling
VQA Wines of Ontario Wine Journalism Award
Dick Snyder, Freelance Writer
ASL Print FX Best Label Design Award
Gold: Palatine Hills Estate 2017 The Wanderers Red
Silver: Drea’s Wine Co. 2017 Drea’s Sauvignon Blanc
Bronze: Windrush Estate 2017 Pinot Grigio
105.7 EZ Rock / Newstalk 610 CKTB Sparkling Wine Award ~ Traditional Method
Gold: Megalomaniac N/V Bubblehead
Silver: Kew Vineyards Estate 2016 Pinot Meunier
Bronze: Henry of Pelham Family Estate N/V Cuvée Catherine Rosé Brut
Bronze: Trius N/V Brut Rosé
Niagara Airbus Sparkling Wine Award ~ Cuve Close
Gold: Megalomaniac 2018 Sparkling Personality
Silver: Reif Estate N/V The Stars Sparkling Riesling
Bronze: Pelee Island 2016 Secco
Bronze: Vieni Estates 2018 Classic Brut
Dry Riesling Award
Gold: No Gold Awarded
Silver: No Silver Awarded
Bronze: Honsberger Estate 2018 Riesling
Benchmark Restaurant Semi-Dry Riesling Award
Gold: Peller Estates 2016 Andrew Peller Signature Series Riesling
Silver: Redstone 2017 Limestone Vineyard Riesling
Bronze: Flat Rock Cellars 2017 Riesling
Fine Wine Reserve Dry White Varietal Award
Gold: Big Head Wines 2017 RAW Chenin Blanc
Silver: No Silver Awarded
Bronze: Colio Estate 2017 Bricklayer’s Reward
Bronze: Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2017 Grand Reserve White Meritage
George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Gewurztraminer Award
Gold: Big Head Wines 2018 Gewurztraminer
Silver: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2017 Small Lot Gewurztraminer
Bronze: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2017 Balance Gewurztraminer
Bronze: Konzelmann Estate 2016 Gewurztraminer Late Harvest
Via Rail Canada Pinot Blanc/Pinot Gris Award
Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2017 Lakefront Series Pinot Blanc
Silver: Strewn 2017 Terroir Pinot Blanc
Silver: Harwood Estate 2017 Pinot Gris
Bronze: Magnotta 2017 Pinot Grigio Venture Series Bronze: Huff Estates 2017 Pinot Gris
Amcor Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Award
Gold: Creekside Estate 2017 Iconoclast Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Gold: Angels Gate Estate 2017 Sauvignon Blanc
Gold: Trius 2017 Showcase Clean Slate Sauvignon Blanc Wild Ferment
Silver: Megalomaniac 2018 Savvy Sauvignon Blanc
Silver: Leaning Post Wines 2018 Sauvignon Blanc
Silver: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2017 Gastronomy Fumé Blanc
Bronze: Vieni Estates 2016 Sauvignon Blanc
Cogeco Oaked Chardonnay Award ~ Under $20
Gold: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2017 Gastronomy Chardonnay
Silver: Strewn 2017 Barrel Aged Chardonnay
Bronze: Flat Rock Cellars 2017 Chardonnay
IWEG Oaked Chardonnay Award ~ Over $20
Gold: Tawse 2013 Lenko Vineyard Chardonnay
Silver: Flat Rock Cellars 2017 The Rusty Shed Chardonnay
Bronze: Two Sisters Vineyards 2017 Chardonnay
Canadian Food & Wine Institute at Niagara College Unoaked Chardonnay Award
Gold: Big Head Wines 2017 Chardonnay Stainless
Silver: Konzelmann Estate 2017 Unoaked Chardonnay
Bronze: Two Sisters Vineyards 2017 Unoaked Chardonnay
Rosé/Blanc de Noir Award
Gold: No Gold Awarded
Silver: Peller Estates 2018 Private Reserve Rosé
Bronze: North 42 Degrees Estate 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé
Donna’s Fashions Gamay Award
Gold: London Born Wine Co. 2017 Gamay Noir
Silver: 13th Street 2017 Gamay
Bronze: Peller Estates 2017 Private Reserve Gamay Noir
Bronze: Megalomaniac 2017 Avant Garde Gamay
Bronze: Malivoire 2018 Gamay
Allen’s Pinot Noir Award
Gold: Flat Rock Cellars 2015 Gravity Pinot Noir
Gold: The Farm 2017 Black Label Pinot Noir
Gold: Bachelder 2016 les Villages Pinot Noir
Silver: Tawse 2016 Tintern Road Vineyard Pinot Noir
Bronze: Megalomaniac 2016 SonOfABitch Pinot Noir
Bronze: Megalomaniac 2016 Reserve Pinot Noir
Grapes for Humanity Red Hybrid Award
Gold: Malivoire 2017 Old Vines Foch
Silver: Sandbanks 2017 Sleeping Giant
Silver: Sandbanks 2017 Baco Noir Reserve
Bronze: Henry of Pelham Family Estate 2017 Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir
Niagara Airbus Cabernet Sauvignon Award
Gold: Kacaba Vineyards 2016 Signature Series Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver: Riverview Cellars 2015 Salvatore’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze: Nomad at Hinterbrook 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze: Two Sisters Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
Cogeco Cabernet Franc Award
Gold: Trius 2016 Showcase Red Shale Cabernet Franc Clark Farm Vineyard
Silver: Two Sisters Vineyards 2015 Cabernet Franc
Bronze: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2016 Small Lot Cabernet Franc
Bronze: Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2016 Reserve Cabernet Franc
FCC Agribusiness and Agri-Food Merlot Award
Gold: Malivoire 2016 Stouck Merlot
Gold: Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2016 Grand Reserve Merlot
Gold: Megalomaniac 2016 Big Mouth Merlot
Silver: Konzelmann Estate 2017 Lakefront Series Merlot
Silver: Angels Gate Estate 2016 Mountainview Merlot
Bronze: Magnotta 2016 Limited Edition Merlot
Quench Magazine Syrah/Shiraz Award
Gold: Big Head Wines 2017 RAW Syrah
Gold: Creekside Estate 2016 Broken Press Syrah Reserve
Silver: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2017 Balance Syrah
Silver: Angels Gate Estate 2016 Mountainview Syrah
Bronze: Meldville Wines 2017 Syrah
Fine Wine Reserve Meritage and Cabernet/Merlot Blends Award
Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2016 Meritage Reserve
Silver: The Foreign Affair 2016 Temptress
Bronze: Wayne Gretzky Estates 2016 No. 99 Estate Series Cabernet Merlot
Bronze: Palatine Hills Estate 2017 Wanderer’s Red
Vintage Assessments Late Harvest Award
Gold: Big Head Wines 2016 Special Select Late Harvest Riesling
Silver: Konzelmann Estate 2017 Special Select Late Harvest Vidal
Bronze: Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2018 Botrytis Affected Viognier
105.7 EZ Rock / Newstalk 610 CKTB Vidal Icewine Award
Gold: Sue-Ann Staff Estate 2017 Howard’s Vidal Icewine
Silver: Château des Charmes 2017 Vidal Icewine
Bronze: Byland Estate 2018 Vidal Icewine
LCBO Vinifera White Icewine Award
Gold: The Lakeview Wine Co. 2017 Lakeview Cellars Gewurztraminer Icewine
Silver: Byland Estate 2018 Riesling Icewine
Silver: Peller Estates 2017 Andrew Peller Signature Series Riesling Icewine
Bronze: Tawse 2013 Chardonnay Icewine
LCBO Vinifera Red Icewine Award
Gold: The Lakeview Wine Co. 2017 Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Franc Icewine
Silver: The Lakeview Wine Co. 2017 Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine
Bronze: Pillitteri Estates 2017 Cabernet Franc Icewine
Bronze: Palatine Hills Estate 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine
George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Appassimento Red Award
Gold: Pillitteri Estates 2015 Riserva Famiglia Cabernet Franc Appassimento
Gold: Burning Kiln 2016 Kiln Hanger
Gold: Angels Gate Estate 2016 BIN 95
Silver: Burning Kiln 2017 Horse & Boat
Bronze: The Foreign Affair 2016 Apologetic Red
Cogeco Blended Red Award
Gold: Magnotta 2016 G. Marquis Epic – The Silver Line
Silver: No Silver Awarded
Bronze: Wayne Gretzky Estates 2016 No.99 Estate Series Shiraz Cabernet
Bronze: Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2016 Discovery Series Merlot Petit Verdot
Bronze: Megalomaniac 2016 Big Kahuna
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