Bloom 2014 tasting discoveries

Photo: Chris Jentsch of C.C. Jentsch Cellars

Those who still remember the B.C. wine industries of the 1970s, when there were six wineries, no doubt were floored when they walked into Bloom 2014, the recent spring tasting hosted by the B.C. Wine Institute.

More than 90 wineries were there, usually pouring four wines each. With only three hours, no tasting strategy could cover more than a handful of producers arrayed in that vast hall of the Vancouver Convention Centre.

I sought out several newer wineries, passing by producers whose wines I have already reviewed or will review shortly. I also tried to taste wines from several regions. That amounted to just seven producers. After all, there needs to be time set aside for conversations and note taking. In the 1970s, I would have covered the entire industry – except that wineries in that era were not even allowed to do public tastings.

These are certainly better times; and the wines without a doubt are far superior.

Here are my notes.

C.C. Jentsch Cellars

Chris Jentsch (pronounced Yentsch) opened this winery last year right beside Highway 97 between Oliver and Osoyoos. He is still getting the brand established in the market with rather moderate prices.

The wines are made by Matt Dumayne, a winemaker at Okanagan Crush Pad, assisted by Amber Jones, the on site winemaker at Jentsch. It is a solid team.

C.C. Jentsch Cellars Viognier 2013 ($22.90). This is a crisp and refreshing white that emphasizes the lovely aromatics of the variety. The floral aromas lead to flavours of apple and apricot, with good spine of minerality. 90.

C.C. Jentsch Cellars The Dance Rosé 2013 ($17.90). This wine was made primarily by Amber, who is keen on rosé wines. The wine was made by the classic saignée method, in which some juice is bled from each varietal’s must while the juice is cold soaking on the crushed skins. The blend here is 50% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot. This is a juicy wine with aromas and flavours of cherries and plums. The texture gives it weight on the palate and the finish is dry. 90.

C.C. Jentsch Cellars The Chase 2012 ($19.90). It would be hard to find a better Bordeaux blend at this price. The wine is 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% Petit Verdot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 7.5% Malbec. The wine begins with aromas of toasty oak and vanilla. The flavours are big and bold, including blueberry, blackberry and black currant with a lingering finish that includes notes of spice and liquorice. 90.

C.C. Jentsch Cellars Syrah 2012 ($28.90). Chris tells me that he likes this wine so much that he drinks it most of the time. I would, too, if I had a cellar full of it. It begins with floral aromas – probably the influence of the six per cent Viognier that was co-fermented with the Syrah. On the palate, there are ripe and spicy flavours of plum and black cherry. The long ripe tannins give the wine a plush, mouth-filling texture. 91.

Little Straw Vineyards

This West Kelowna winery is operated by the Slamka family. It opened in 1996 as Slamka Cellars. When the family decided to rebrand several years later, they simply translated the family name, which means little straw. Subsequently, they launched a companion label in French, La Petite Paille. Part of the vineyard dates from 1968 and includes the oldest Auxerrois block in the Okanagan. Peter Slamka (right) is the winemaker.

La Petite Paille Sauvignon Blanc 2013 ($16.90 for 334 cases). This wine appeals with fruity aromas of lime and rhubarb, following up with tangy lime flavours on the palate. It is dry and refreshing. 88.

La Petite Paille Pinot Noir 2009 ($21.90 for 324 cases). There are cherry and strawberry in the aroma and on the palate, along with a classic Burgundian earthy note on the finish. The texture is concentrated, finishing with silky tannins. This wine is superb value. 90.

Little Straw Sauvignon Blanc 2013 ($16.90 for 557 cases). This wine also has aromas and flavours of lime, along with tropical fruit and gooseberry flavours. The wine is also crisp and fresh but with a touch of sweetness on the finish. 90.

Little Straw Old Vines Auxerrois 2012 ($17.90 for 296 cases). The label of this wine is a photo of Joe and Freya Slamka, who planted one of the vineyards here in 1968. How they got Auxerrois into B.C. from Europe is shrouded in history. The variety does well in the Okanagan but has never had a huge consumer following. That is hard to understand when tasting this complex barrel-aged wine with peach and apricot flavours and with a rich and satisfying texture while finishing almost dry. 90.

Robin Ridge Winery

Tim and Caroline Cottrill opened this Similkameen winery in 2008 on a vineyard near the historic Grist Mill. They have been expanding in a measured way every since with additional wines and by planting a second vineyard nearby.

Robin Ridge Sparkling Finch 2012 ($26.90). This is the winery’s first traditional method sparkling wine, a cuvée of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir. The wine has an appealing creamy texture with strawberry and apple aromas and flavours. 90.

Robin Ridge Chardonnay 2012 ($18.90). While this wine was barrel-fermented, the oak is quite supple, supporting buttery, peachy aromas and flavours. 90.

Robin Ridge Late Harvest Sun Sweet Chardonnay 2012 ($16.90 for 140 cases of 350 ml bottles). The grapes for this were picked November 15 when they were super ripe. The result is a luscious dessert wine tasting of baked apples, mango and custard. 88.

Robin Ridge Flicker 2013 ($N/A). This rosé is made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fruit. It is crisply refreshing with notes of cranberry and strawberry and with a dry finish. 88.

Robin Ridge Pinot Noir 2012 ($21.90). A pretty wine in the feminine style, this wine has aromas and flavours of strawberry and cherry with a silky finish. 89.

Robin Ridge Gamay 2012 ($23.90). This has long been my favourite red from Robin Ridge. It is a bold Gamay, tasting of spice, raspberry and cherries. The texture is rich and velvety at the same time. 91.

Robin Ridge Merlot 2010 ($24.90). This wine has aromas and favours of black currants and plums, along with savoury and herbal notes. 88.

Robin Ridge Big Bird Meritage 2011 ($31.90). This is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It begins with aromas of mint and cedar, leading to flavours of black currant, blackberry, tobacco, coffee and minerals. The texture is firm. This brooding red needs to be cellared another three or four years to show its full potential. 91.

Sage Hills Organic Estate Vineyard & Winery

Rick Thrussel opened this Summerland winery last year. A former home builder in Vancouver, he moved to the Okanagan in 2006, bought an 11-acre orchard and converted to organically produced grapes. The vineyard and the winery are on a promontory with a dramatic view over Okanagan Lake.

Sage Hills Pinot Gris 2013 ($28.90 for 844 cases). This wine is packed with citrus and apple flavours, giving the wine a juicy and satisfying texture. The finish is crisply refreshing. 90.

Sage Hills Gewürztraminer 2013 ($28.90 for 342 cases). The low tonnage viticulture practised here results in an intense wine with flavours of grapefruit and spice. 90.

Sage Hills Syrah Rosé 2013 ($28.90 for 287 cases). The nose is almost jammy, in a positive way, leading to flavours of plum and boysenberry on a rich palate. The finish, however, is pleasantly dry. 90.

Sage Hills Pinot Noir Small Lots 2012 ($44.90 but sold out). This delicious wine has aromas and flavours of strawberry and cherry, with the classic silky texture one wants in Pinot Noir. 91.

Tantalus Vineyards

This winery in East Kelowna is an authentic estate producer, using grapes only from its contiguous vineyards. The anchor vineyard here is Pioneer Vineyards which has been farmed with vines since 1927. It is just two years younger than the Sperling family’s Pioneer Ranch, which is nearby and which is the oldest vineyard in the Okanagan farmed continuously by the same family. The Tantalus property was farmed for much of its history by the Dulik family who started a winery here in 1997, called Pinot Reach Cellars. It has been owned since 2004 by Vancouver investment dealer Eric Savics, who rebranded it.

Tantalus Riesling 2013 ($22.90). This wine just tingles with racy acidity; the flavours of lime, lemon and minerals are classic and appealing, with a very long finish. This is balanced like a dry German Riesling, with 15.8 grams of residual sugar and 10.5 grams of acidity. The wine is good now but has potential to age several more years. 92.

Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2011 ($34.90 for 150 cases). This wine is a little drier and a great deal more intense than the “regular” Riesling because the fruit comes from a two-acre block of Riesling planted in 1978. The wine has developed the classic aromas and flavours sometimes called petrol. Citrus and green apple flavours mingle with minerality on a rich palate. 93.

Tantalus Chardonnay 2012 ($29.90). Here is a crisp Chablis style Chardonnay with minimal oak. The wine showcases the green apple and mineral flavours, with a touch of citrus on the lively finish. 90.

Tantalus Rosé 2013 ($21.90). Here is a crisp and dry rosé made with food in mind. It is 60% Pinot Meunier, 40% Pinot Noir. It has aromas and flavours of strawberry, cherry and pink grapefruit. The wine is remarkable for a vibrant colour, the result of long skin contact. 88.

Tantalus Juveniles Pinot Noir 2012 ($22.90). As the name suggests, this wine is made from fruit of the youngest Pinot Noir plantings on the estate. The wine is light but pretty, with notes of strawberry and cherry on the nose; and raspberry and cherry on the palate. 88.

The View Winery

The View is one of the group of interesting wineries in East Kelowna. What sets the winery apart is its big block of Pinotage, the red variety created in South Africa almost 100 years ago. Somehow, I missed tasting the 2012 Reserve Pinotage ($24.50), so I will need to see if my local VQA store has any. It has always been a solid red.

The View Hail Mary 2013 ($16.40 for 195 cases). Perhaps the wine is so named because Jennifer Molgat, the winery’s president, needed a few prayers to get through the 2013 vintage after 15 minutes of hail devastated about 70% of the crop in her vineyard. Her prayer was answered when she found enough Müller-Thurgau in nearby vineyard to blend it with her surviving Riesling (50% each). It is a pleasantly fruity white, a perfectly refreshing summer wine. 88.

The View Gewürztraminer 2013 ($15.90 for 367 cases). The touch of residual sugar here lifts the spice and lychee flavours while the balance still leaves a crisp, spicy finish. 88.

The View Riesling 2013 ($18.90). Again, there is excellent tension between the racy acidity and the residual sugar, leaving a crisp and refreshing finish. The wine shows aromas and flavours of lime and lemon. 88.

The View Well-Heeled 2013 ($19.90 for 174 cases of 350 ml bottles). This is delicious desert wine, a blend of 85% Müller-Thurgau and 15% Ehrenfelser. A wine with ripe peach and apricot aromas and flavours, it has been slightly fortified to 15.2%. You don’t notice the alcohol behind the 50 grams of residual sugar. A true sticky, as the Australians would say. 90.

Young & Wyse Collection

Michelle Young and Steve Wyse run this winery in Osoyoos, near the border crossing into the U.S. He is a member of the family that owns Burrowing Owl and that’s where he got his training. Some people think Young & Wyse is the go-to winery when Burrowing Owl is sold out. For consumers, the good news is that the winery’s Vancouver agent recently rolled back some of the prices a few dollars.

Young & Wyse Amber 2011 ($18.90). This is a fresh and tangy blend of 43% Viognier, 37% Pinot Gris and 20% Gewürztraminer. Beginning with floral aromas, it has flavours of nectarines, apples and honeydew melons. 90.

Young & Wyse White Label Viognier 2012 ($21.90). Beginning with orange blossom aromas, this wine has flavours of apricot, peach and apple. The texture is full but the finish is crisp. 90.

Young & Wyse White Label Merlot 2011 ($21.90). Here is a good value Merlot with plum, blueberry and black currant aromas and flavours and a generous, chewy texture. 90.

Young & Wyse Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 ($23.90). This is an elegant winem beginning with aromas of cassis and blackberry. On the palate, there is a medley of berry flavours including black currant and blueberry. 91.

Young & Wyse Black Sheep Blend 2011 ($23.90). This Meritage blend begins with aromas of spicy plum and blueberry. On  the palate, the texture is ruch, with appealing flavours of cassis, coffee and liquorice. 91.

Hester Creek raises the bar with its new Trebbiano

Hester Creek winemaker Rob Summers

Hester Creek Estate Winery in the Okanagan calls itself Canada’s only producer of Trebbiano.

The release from the 2013 vintage is, without a doubt, the finest Trebbiano from the property. The price has increased a few dollars but the wine is worth every penny.

For the first time, the wine has been released with the tag “Old Vines” on the label, drawing additional attention that there might be something special in the bottle.

There is history here.

Joe Busnardo, the original owner of the winery – it was then called Divino – is believed to have planted the Italian variety in 1968. He sold the vineyard in 1996 to relocate Divino to the Cowichan Valley. He took vine cuttings, including Trebbiano, with him for the Vancouver Island vineyard. If he produced that wine there, it likely disappeared into a blend.

It is not known whether anyone ever asked Joe where he sourced Trebbiano in Italy. There are at least six varieties of Trebbiano listed in Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson et al. The varietals are not even always related to each other.

The odds are that Hester Creek has Trebbiano Toscano. “It is by far the most widespread of the heterogeneous group of varieties with Trebbiano in their name and the second most widely planted in Italy,” Robinson writes. “It generally disappears into blends or in some countries into a still. Its neutral nature and high acidity make it an ideal candidate for distillation.” It is in fact the same variety as Ugni Blanc, much favoured by French distillers.

Hester Creek’s vines might also be Trebbiano Spoletino, a much less well known Umbrian variety. Joe Busnardo came from Treviso, north of Venice, which is closer to Umbria than to Tuscany.

It would take extensive DNA work to establish which Trebbiano this is. In fact, the Hester Creek vineyard still has a few other old Italian varieties, including one just called Italian Merlot, that need more research. Joe was blazing trail when he started planting the vineyard in 1968 with vines both from Italy and California. He planted as many as 136 varieties, experimenting more than a decade before the Becker project. Pinot Blanc, the most successful varietal in the Becker project, was already thriving at Joe’s vineyard.

Joe and succeeding owners have been winnowing the varietal mix down to what succeeds best here (and with consumers).

Hester Creek has propagated enough Trebbiano from its original block to support an annual production of 800 to 1,000 cases. Half of the 2013 Trebbiano has already been sold. I would not delay picking up a few bottles.

Rob Summers, the Hester Creek winemaker, gave several reasons when I asked him why the wine had made such an apparent jump in quality.

“It was a beautiful vintage,” he says. “And the old vines are the key.” The original vines in Block 16 date from 1968 and they provided cuttings for an additional planting in 2002.

There also was a technical upgrade in the winery’s fermentation equipment. The winery invested $20,000 in equipment that enables the winemaker to lift the cap of solids in a tank of juice and rack off the clear juice from the bottom. “You don’t let the juice settle on the solids for two to four days,” Rob says. He was able to ferment very clean juice and, after a healthy fermentation, do just minimal filtration.

Because the equipment arrived midway through the harvest, he was not able to use it with all the whites. The Pinot Blanc, however, benefited from this process and the 2013 vintage of that variety also is impressive. This fall, all the whites will get the treatment.

Here are notes on the Hester Creek releases.

Hester Creek Pinot Gris 2013 ($17.95 for 6,000 cases). The wine begins with aromas of citrus and apple. On the palate, there are flavours of citrus and pear with a hint of anise on the finish. The wine is crisply refreshing with good weight. 88.

Hester Creek Pinot Blanc 2013 ($16.95 for 4,500 cases). The wine begins with aromas of apples and melons. Those flavours are delivered to the palate, alone with a fine backbone of minerals. The flavours are fresh and crisp. 90.

Hester Creek Old Vines Trebbiano Block 16 2013 ($22.95 for 1,000 cases). The wine is elegant in a Burgundy bottle, with a light golden hue in the wineglass. The aromas are complex, including herbs, nuts, citrus and pears. The imperceptible touch of residual sugar expresses itself in richness on the palate. The wine has flavours of cantaloupe, pear and grapefruit, with a long lingering finish. 92.

Hester Creek Rosé Cabernet Franc 2013 ($19.95 for 1,000 cases). I have heard it argued that rosé wines should be a pale pink. I am glad Hester Creek is not of that school. This wine’s dark and vibrant hue is instantly appealing. In the aroma, there are strawberries, cherries and rhubarb. The medley of fruit flavours  fill the mouth. Here, the residual sugar (12 grams per litre) gives the wine volume, with a touch of black currant jam on the finish. 90.

Amarone from the Okanagan

 Photo: Winemaker Dylan Roche

A rare Appassimento red wine – in effect, an Amarone style wine – has been introduced in the Okanagan by Intersection Estate Winery.

In the classic Amarone style, Intersection winemaker Dylan Roche air dried newly harvested Merlot grapes for 40 days for the inaugural 2012 vintage (25 cases). That partial dehydration concentrated the flavours and the sugars, resulting in a finished wine with 17% alcohol and rich, mouth-filling flavours.

About 70 cases of 2013 Appassimento are maturing in barrel for release in a year or two.

Wines like this are seldom made in the Okanagan. To the best of my recollection, only Pentâge Winery and Castoro de Oro Estate Winery have made wines from air dried grapes.

The innovative Appassimento is among the impressive wines that have just been released by Intersection. The winery, which opened in 2011, is so named because of its location at the intersection of Highway 97 and Road 8, a short drive south of Oliver.

Proprietor Bruce Schmidt is a Kelowna-born venture capital entrepreneur who is also a veteran of the British Columbia wine industry. He started his career in the late 1970s as a marketing executive with Calona Wines, famously turning the Schloss Laderheim brand for several years into Canada’s largest selling white (a million cases a year).

While he left Calona in the early 1980s for careers in advertising, biotechnology and venture capital, he almost always kept involved with the wine industry. In 2007 he bought vineyard property with a vacant packing house. The vineyard is planted mostly with Merlot while the packing house has been turned into a very serviceable winery.

The initial wines were made by a consultant until Bruce was able to recruit Dylan in March 2012. Born in Vancouver in 1976, Dylan immersed himself in wines and winemaking while living in Burgundy and working for the bicycle tour company, Butterfield & Robinson, starting in 2000.

He earned a diploma in Viticulture and Oenology in 2004 from the Faculté d'Oenologie de Dijon in Bourgogne. Until returning to Canada, he made wine at three Bordeaux chateaux, as well at several properties in Burgundy and in New Zealand.

“I lived five years in Burgundy and Italy is only about 3½ hours away,” Dylan says. “I would go down on weekends and ride my bicycle and taste. We would taste lots of things in Valpolicella, including Amarone. I thought the Okanagan would be a great and easy place to make Amarone because of the dry climate.” In fact, he even elaborated the idea in his thesis at the wine school.

Soon after joining Intersection, he persuaded Bruce that the winery should make an Appassimento. “We set aside some Merlot from the south block and we picked it straight onto mesh drying racks. The grapes spent 40 days - whole bunches drying on racks indoors, as you would in Valpolicella. It was destemmed, fermented on skins in upturned barrels with heads off. It went into barrels around December 20, 2012, and was pressed off in early February.” The wine then was aged 18 months in French oak.

 Intersection Appassimento 2012, not yet priced, is likely to be allocated through Intersection’s tasting room and to the winery’s wine club. It is a stunning wine which I have scored 94 points. It has richly concentrated flavours of plums and prunes, with notes of liquorice on the long finish. The alcohol is 17.2% but the wine is so full and viscous that it just does not seem hot.

I once drank a fine Amarone in Italy with a big wedge of parmigiano reggiano. That would be a great pairing with this wine as well.

Here are notes on other wines from Intersection.

Intersection Mile’s Edge White 2012 ($18.90). This intriguing blend is 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Viognier. The wine begins with aromas of honeyed pineapple, leading to flavours of pineapple and apricot. The finish lingers. 90.

Intersection Riesling 2013 (about $17-$18). This is from the first harvest from a young block of Riesling in the Intersection vineyard. The wine has herbal and lemon flavours, fairly soft acidity and a crisp, dry finish. Like most Rieslings, it needs to age a bit in the bottle. 88.

Intersection Barrel Ferment Viognier-Marsanne 2012  ($24.90). The wine again has honeyed aromas and flavours of apricot and citrus, with tropical fruit flavours on a very long finish. 91.

Intersection Barrel Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2012 ($24.90). Seventy percent of this was fermented in barrel; the rest was fermented in steel to preserve the fruitiness. The wine’s herbal aromas lead to an explosion of explosion of tropical fruit on the palate and a long finish. 91.

Intersection Rosé 2013 ($17.90). This is a Merlot rosé with a dash of Cabernet Franc to enhance the lovely rose petal hue. It is a dry French style rosé, with a hint of strawberry in the aroma and flavour. 88.

Intersection Milepost Red 2011 ($18.90). Made entirely with Merlot, this is a quaffable fruit-forward red, with flavours of cherry and black currant. Aged in barrels – but not new oak – the wine has long, polished tannins. 88.

Intersection Unfiltered Merlot 2011 ($21.90). Here is a Merlot with depth and concentration whose flavours are just beginning to open. There are tastes of black currant and mulberry with a hint of chocolate and coffee on the finish. The long ripe tannins were burnished by aging the wine 12 months in French and American oak. 90.

Intersection Unfiltered Cabernet Franc 2012 ($24.90). This is a big, brambly red, beginning with floral and raspberry aromas. On the palate, there are flavours blackberry, raspberry and plum. There is appealing spiciness on thje long finish. 92.

Intersection Alluvia 2012 (not released). This unfiltered Merlot is from a specific block in the northwest corner of the vineyard with complex alluvial soil. The wine is big (14.8% alcohol) and concentrated, with flavours of plum and black currant. On the finish, there is cola and chocolate framed with toasty oak. 92.

Intersection Silica 2012 (not released). Also an unfiltered Merlot, this is from a sandy block in the vineyard. The wine has appealing aromas of plum and cassis with plum and black currant flavours. The texture is leaner and the tannins are a bit more aggressive than Alluvia. 91.

The vineyard blocks are practically adjoining. “You can actually walk from one zone to another,” Bruce says. “It is the same vineyard. The irrigation line segments the blocks. What is ironic is that we always felt this northwest block wasn’t very good. Yet the Alluvia turned out to be brilliant.”

Bruce continues: “There has been a lot of talk lately about appellations and terroir. This indicates that we feel the same way. We should be talking more about our micro-terroirs. And that just doesn’t mean soil. In this case, we split and irrigation system. We will supplement the soil differently – yet the blocks are butting up against each other. It also plays in a little bit into the idea of the French small property.”

SpierHead Winery releases in spring 2014

Photo: SpierHead winery

Last August, a brief but devastating hail storm wreaked havoc with SpierHead Winery’s Gentleman Farmer Vineyard in East Kelowna.

While the vineyard is recovering, the setback came just as wines from previous vintages were showing the terrific promise of the terroir. I have a note below on the impressive 2012 Chardonnay.

SpierHead proprietor Bill Knutson told me recently that the damage to the vines does not seem likely to impact on the 2014 crop.

 "I was in Kelowna on the weekend and it doesn't look as if the hail has caused any set back to this year's crop," he wrote in a May 12 email. "  Everything appears to be on schedule.  We're just about to plant an additional five acres of Pinot Noir.   We've decided to go all in with Pinot Noir which is interesting with Mission Hill setting up its new Pinot Noir winery not too far away.  We presently grow three  Dijon clones and with the planting this year we'll be introducing a fourth.  I have a couple more unique clones coming but the lead time for those plants is more than one year so we'll be planting an additional few acres next year."

 The winery reacted quickly last fall to supplement its vineyard with purchased grapes. The winery has now released its first two wines from 2013. Even if they are not from Gentleman Farmer, they are first class wines.

The sardonic name for SpierHead’s Gentleman Farmer vineyard tells you something about the ownership. The three couples who launched the winery (it opened in 2010 with wines from the 2008 vintage) are all gentlemen farmers. Bill Knutson, who is the managing partner with Marina, his wife, is a Vancouver lawyer. Bruce Hirtle, whose role is less visible, has been a Vancouver investment dealer. Brian Sprout, who sold his interest in the winery last year, is well-known Kelowna photographer.

Originally, the partners were looking for vineyard property in the South Okanagan until they realized that wineries in that area have a long, quiet winter while those near Kelowna are close to a year-round wine buying population.

Early in 2007, they acquired a 20-acre property on Spiers Road, an easy drive from downtown Kelowna. It was then primary an apple orchard. While some of the apple trees remain, the property has slowly been transforming into the Gentleman Farmer vineyard.

The major varieties planted here are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. The first vintage of Pinot Noir was 2010. Because it was from young vines, the winery hesitated to charge what the wine was worth; consumers got a terrific bargain at $17.90. The 2012 Gentleman Farmer Pinot Noir sells for $30 and a second 2012 Pinot Noir is $22. While they are on the winery website, I do not know whether they have been released.

It is evident that winery has an excellent site for the varieties being grown there. The Rieslings also show considerable promise.

Here are notes on the recent releases.

SpierHead Chardonnay 2012 Gentleman Farmer Vineyard ($23 for 225 cases). This begins with appealing aromas of citrus. The wine is lively on the palate with flavours of orange and apricot. The use of oak is very subtle; less than a third of the wine was aged in oak. Consequently, the wine is refreshingly fruit forward but with enough going on to give it elegance and complexity. 90.

SpierHead Pinot Gris 2013 ($19.90 for 500 cases). The fruit for this wine, SpierHead’s second Pinot Gris, comes from the Golden Retreat Vineyard in Summerland, which is owned and farmed by David Kozuki. This is a wine that appeals to those of us who like the variety aged in stainless steel, with the focus on the fruit aromas and flavours. This wine begins with citrus aromas. It is packed with fruit flavours that include green apples, melon, lime and even lemon. It has a tangy, refreshing finish. 91.

SpierHead Pinot Noir Rosé 2013 ($19.90 for 730 cases). This is the winery’s second rosé. The volume shows that SpierHead was encouraged by having won a double gold at the All-Canadian Wine Awards for the 2012 vintage. The grapes for this wine are from the Lands End Vineyard in Southeast Kelowna. Winemaker Bill Pierson let the juice soak two days on the skins, allowing the wine to develop a deep rose hue. It has aromas and flavours of strawberry and cranberry. This is a crisply dry wine meant for food. 90.

BC wines clean up at All Canadian Wine Championships

Photo: One of the many winners from BC

The performance of British Columbia wines at the recent 2014 All Canadian Wine Championships was nothing short of astounding.

There were very few categories – Cabernet Franc was one of the few – that were not dominated by British Columbia producers.

One of the other judges commented one day that there was little interest in Ontario wines in British Columbia but a lot of interest in BC wines in Ontario. There are many explanations why this is so. These results provide one explanation.

Two Okanagan wineries took home trophies for “wine of the year” at the 2014 All Canadian Wine Awards: Desert Hills for a 2013 Gewürztraminer and Summerhill for its flagship sparkling wine, Cipes Brut.

About 1,300 wines were entered, with producers from across Canada taking home medals. The red wine of the year was from Ontario:  a Bordeaux red from

Rosewood Estates Winery, it’s 2012 Lock, Stock & Barrel ($34.00).

 The dessert wine of the year award was won by a small Quebec winery, Vignoble Du Marathonien, for its 2012 Vendange Tardive ($28.00).

Given how well BC wineries did, I should note that just two of the 15 judges were from British Columbia. Almost all the others were from Ontario; there was no BC bias in the judging.

Since my blog traditionally deals with British Columbia, I have extracted the BC winners. For those who need to review the entire list of winners, go to http://canadianwinetrail.com/cwt/all-canadian-wine-championships-winners-2014/.

In most categories, the dominance of British Columbia wines was astonishing.

BC wineries won all seven medals for Viognier, all 16 medals for Gewürztraminer; fourteen of the 16 medals for dry Riesling and seven of 16 medals for off-dry Riesling; and seven of 13 Sauvignon Blanc medals.

B.C. wineries took 14 of the 22 Chardonnay medals; 21 of the 25 medals for Pinot Gris; 20 of 23 medals for white vinifera single varietals; 21 of 25 medals for white vinifera blends; 16 of 21 rosé wines.

In reds, B.C. wineries won six of eight medals for Cabernet Sauvignon over $25 and two of the six medals for Cabernet Sauvignon under $25; 18 of 24 medals for Merlot; and 19 of 32 medals for Pinot Noir under $25; 12 of 14 Syrah and 17 of 31 Bordeaux red blends. All eight of the single red vinifera medals and five of eight red vinifera blends medals were won by BC.

BC wineries even won four of five medals for Maréchal Foch and all four medals for dry soft fruit wines.

Ontario wineries won two thirds of the 22 medals for Cabernet Franc, a varietal which has also grown well in Ontario.

Here are the BC winners. It is a long list.

White wine of the year

Desert Hills Estate Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer $19.90

Best sparkling wine of the year

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut $26.95

Sparkling wines

Double Gold: Summerhill Cipes Brut

Gold:  Gray Monk Odyssey Traditional Brut 2010 $29.99

Chardonnay Unoaked:

Double Gold

Gold Hill Winery 2013 Chardonnay $19.90

Gold

Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2012 Not So Knotty Chardonnay $18.99

Silver

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2013 Dry Rock Unoaked Chardonnay $14.99

Chaberton Estate Winery 2012 Valley Chardonnay $14.95

Bronze

Kraze Legz Winery 2013 Skaha Vineyard Unoaked Chardonnay $19.85

Monster Vineyards 2012 Skinny Dip $17.90

Chardonnay under $20:

Double Gold

CedarCreek Estate Winery 2012 CedarCreek Chardonnay $17.90

Gold

Mission Hill Family Estate 2012 Reserve Chardonnay $19.99

Robin Ridge Winery 2012 Chardonnay $18.90

Silver

Red Rooster Winery 2012 Chardonnay $16.99

Quails’ Gate 2012 Quails’ Gate Chardonnay $19.99

Bronze

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2012 Grand Reserve Chardonnay $19.99

Chardonnay over $20:

Double Gold

Quails’ Gate 2012 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay $35.00

Gold

Mission Hill Family Estate 2011 Perpetua $34.99

Township 7 Vineyards and Winery 2012 Chardonnay $20.99

Silver

La Frenz Estate Winery 2012 Reserve Chardonnay $29.00

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2012 Chardonnay $25.00

Bronze

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2011 Chardonnay Reserve $24.00

SpierHead Winery 2012 Chardonnay $23.00

CedarCreek Estate Winery 2012 CedarCreek Platinum “Block 5″ Chardonnay $29.95

Pentâge Winery 2008 Chardonnay $24.00

Riesling Dry

Gold

Silkscarf Winery 2013 Riesling $24.00

La Frenz Estate Winery 2013 Riesling $20.00

St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery Ltd. 2012 St Hubertus Riesling $16.50

Silver

CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 CedarCreek Riesling $17.95

Tightrope Winery 2013 Riesling $22.00

Tantalus Vineyards 2013 Riesling $22.90

Wild Goose Vineyards and Winery 2012 Stoney Slope Riesling $20.00

Orofino 2013 Hendsbee Vyd Riesling $21.90

Bronze

Orofino 2013 Home Vyd Riesling $28.90

Red Rooster Winery 2013 Riesling $16.99

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2013 Private Reserve Riesling $14.99

Orofino 2012 Hendsbee Vyd Riesling $21.90

Tightrope Winery 2012 Riesling $22.00

CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 CedarCreek Platinum “Block 3″ Riesling $24.95

Riesling Off-Dry

Gold

Orofino 2013 Scout Vyd Riesling $21.90

Backyard Vineyards 2013 Riesling $18.99

Silver

Moraine Estate Winery 2013 Riesling $17.50

Bronze

Gray Monk Estate Winery 2012 Riesling $16.99

Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Winery 2012 Riesling $16.00

Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2012 Riesling $18.99

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2013 Riesling $14.99

Sauvignon Blanc

Gold

Blasted Church Vineyards 2013 Sauvignon Blanc $19.50

La Frenz Estate Winery 2013 Sauvignon Blanc $22.00

Bench 1775 Winery 2013 Sauvignon Blanc $17.90

Silver

Intersection Estate Winery 2013 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc $24.90

Sandhill 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Hidden Terrace Vineyard $18.99

Sandhill 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Sandhill Estate Vineyard $18.99

Bronze

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2012 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc $13.99

Gewürztraminer

Double Gold and Trophy, Best White Wine

Desert Hills Estate Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer $19.90

Gold

Hillside Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer $21.99

Gold Hill Winery 2012 Gewurztraminer $17.90

50th Parallel Estate Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer $18.00

JoieFarm Winery 2012 En Famille Reserve Gewurztraminer $28.00

Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2013 Threadbare Vines $18.99

Wild Goose Vineyards and Winery 2012 Gewurztraminer $19.00

Silver

Celista Estate Winery 2012 Gewurztraminer $18.90

Black Widow Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer $22.00

Bench 1775 Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer $17.90

CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 CedarCreek Gewurztraminer $17.95

Bronze

Ruby Blues Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer $20.00

Thornhaven Estates 2013 Gewurztraminer $17.90

Blasted Church Vineyards 2013 Gewurztraminer $17.50

St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery Ltd. 2013 Oak Bay Gewurztraminer $16.75

Volcanic Hills Estate Winery 2012 Single Vyd Gewurztraminer $20.90

Pinot Gris

Double gold

Bench 1775 Winery 2013 Pinot Gris $16.90

Gold

Perseus Winery 2013 Pinot Gris $14.90

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2013 Pinot Grigio $19.00

Poplar Grove Winery Inc. 2013 Pinot Gris $19.90

CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 CedarCreek Pinot Gris $17.95

River Stone Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Gris $19.90

Silver

Dirty Laundry Vineyard, BC 2013 Say Yes Pinot Gris $19.99

Arrowleaf Cellars 2013 Pinot Gris $17.00

Intrigue Wines 2013 Pinot Gris $16.90

Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery 2012 Ogopogo’s Lair Pinot Grigio $14.99

SpierHead Winery 2013 Pinot Gris $20.00

Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Grigio $13.99

Bronze

CedarCreek 2012 CedarCreek Platinum “Block 5″ Pinot Gris $24.95

Mission Hill Family Estate 2012 Reserve Pinot Gris $19.99

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2013 Pinot Gris $19.00

Thornhaven Estates 2012 Pinot Gris $15.90

Enrico Winery 2011 Pinot Grigio $13.90

Desert Hills Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Gris $19.90

Unsworth Vineyards 2013 Pinot Gris $19.90

Lang Vineyards 2013 Pinot Gris $16.90

Hillside Winery 2012 Reserve Pinot Gris $23.99

Viognier

Double Gold

Pentâge Winery 2013 Viognier $22.00

Gold

Serendipity Winery 2013 Viognier $19.90

Ruby Blues Winery 2013 Viognier $25.00

Silver

Tightrope Winery 2013 Viognier $27.00

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2013 Reserve Viognier $13.99

Bronze

La Frenz Estate Winery 2013 Viognier $22.00

Moon Curser Estate Winery 2012 Viognier $28.00

Single white hybrids

Bronze

Arrowleaf Cellars 2013 Snow Tropics Vidal $17.00

White hybrid blends

Silver

Sunnybrae Vineyards & Winery 2012 Turner Road $18.00

Single varietal white vinifera (primarily Pinot Blanc)

Double Gold

Wild Goose Vineyards 2013 Mystic River Pinot Blanc $19.00

Gold

Gray Monk Estate Winery 2012 Pinot Blanc $16.99

Kraze Legz Winery 2013 Skaha Vineyard Pinot Blanc $18.85

Gray Monk Estate Winery 2013 Ehrenfelser $19.99

Van Westen Vineyards 2012 Vivacious $19.90

JoieFarm Winery 2013 Pinot Blanc $23.00

St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery 2013 St Hubertus Pinot Blanc $14.95

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2013 Ehrenfelser $19.00

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2013 Pinot Blanc $19.00

Silver

La Frenz 2013 Semillon $20.00

Sonoran Estate Winery 2013 Ehrenfelser $19.90

Recline Ridge Vineyards 2013 Bacchus $17.00

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Ehrenfelser $19.95

Sonoran Estate Winery 2013 Oraniensteiner Jazz Series $18.90

Bronze

Clos du Soleil 2013 Pinot Blanc $19.90

Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Winery 2011 Semillon $15.50

Celista Estate Winery 2012 Ortega $17.90

Skimmerhorn Winery & Vineyard 2013 Ortega $16.00

Recline Ridge Vineyards 2012 Siegerrebe $19.00

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2013 Semillon $20.00

White vinifera blends

Double Gold

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2013 Mingle $18.00

Gold

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2013 Gewurztraminer/Schonburger $15.99

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2013 Desert Sun $13.99

Moon Curser Vineyards 2013 Afraid of the Dark $22.00

Cellar Hand Winery (Black Hills Estate Winery) 2012 Cellar Hand Free Run White $16.00

Stoneboat Vineyards 2012 Chorus $17.90

Arrowleaf Cellars 2013 First Crush White $15.00

Hidden Chapel Winery 2013 St. Vincent $19.90

La Frenz 2013 Alexandria $20.00

Silver

Kraze Legz Winery 2013 Skaha Vineyard Mystique $19.85

Red Rooster Winery 2013 Bantam $14.99

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2013 The Spice Jar $19.00

Pentâge Winery 2012 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon $20.00

River Stone Estate Winery 2013 Splash $18.90

Mistaken Identity Vineyards 2013 Bianco $18.00

Bronze

Black Hills Estate Winery 2013 Alibi $25.00

Intersection Estate Winery 2012 Reserve Viognier-Marsanne $24.90

Blasted Church Vineyards 2013 Mixed Blessings $18.50

Ruby Blues Winery 2013 White Stiletto $20.00

Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2013 Secret Affair $18.99

Backyard Vineyards 2013 Nosey Neighbour White $13.99

Rosé

Gold

St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate 2011 St Hubertus Rosé $16.95

House of Rose Winery 2013 Rosé $17.00

Silver

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir Rosé $17.99

Black Widow Winery 2013 Rosé $22.00

Thornhaven Estates 2012 Rosé $15.90

50th Parallel Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir Rosé $18.00

Oliver Twist Estate Winery 2013 Patio Passion $18.00

Moon Curser Vineyards 2013 Nothing to Declare Rosé $22.00

Red Rooster Winery 2013 Reserve Rosé $21.99

Bench 1775 Winery 2013 Glow Rosé $19.90

Stag’s Hollow Winery 2013 Syrah Grenache Rosé $22.00

Bronze

Tantalus Vineyards 2013 Rosé $21.90

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Five Vineyards Rosé $15.99

Pentâge Winery 2013 Rosé $19.00

Hillside Winery 2013 Rosé $19.99

Poplar Grove Winery 2013 Blanc De Noirs $24.90

Cabernet Sauvignon under $25

Silver

Mission Hill Family Estate 2011 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $24.99

Bronze

Moon Curser Vineyards 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon $25.00

Cabernet Sauvignon over $25

Double Gold

Cassini Cellars 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon $39.00

Gold

Perseus Winery 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon $50.00

Silver

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon $35.00

Orofino 2011 Passion Pit Vyd Cabernet Sauvignon $28.90

Bronze

La Frenz Estate Winery 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon $28.00

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2010 SunRock Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $29.99

Merlot under $25

Gold

Orofino 2011 Red Bridge Merlot $24.90

Perseus Winery 2012 Merlot $19.90

Silver

Monster Vineyards 2011 Merlot $19.90

Topshelf Winery 2011 Over The Top Merlot $20.00

Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 2009 Merlot $24.90

Bronze

8th Generation Vineyard 2011 Merlot $22.00

CedarCreek Estate Winery 2011 CedarCreek Merlot $19.95

Arrowleaf Cellars 2011 Merlot $19.00

Gold Hill Winery 2012 Merlot $24.90

Moon Curser Vineyards 2011 Merlot $25.00

Mission Hill Family Estate 2011 Reserve Merlot $24.99

Merlot over $25

Double Gold

Kraze Legz Winery 2011 The Cakewalk $25.85

Gold

Church & State Wines 2010 Coyote Bowl Merlot Similkameen $34.90

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2011 Earth Series Merlot $26.00

Silver

Van Westen Vineyards 2010 Vivre la Vie $29.90

La Frenz Estate Winery 2011 Merlot $26.00

Chaberton Estate Winery 2008 AC 100 $47.95

Bronze

Cassini Cellars 2011 Nobilus Merlot $39.00

Pinot Noir under $25

Gold

Quails’ Gate 2012 Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir $24.99

B|3 Three Bear Ranch 2012 Pinot Noir $14.95

Red Rooster Winery 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir $24.99

Blue Grouse Estate Winery 2009 Estate Pinot Noir $23.00

Silver

La Frenz Estate Winery 2011 Amos Pinot Noir $22.00

SpierHead Winery 2012 Pinot Noir $22.00

Volcanic Hills Estate Winery 2010 Pinot Noir $19.90

Bronze

Red Rooster Winery 2012 Pinot Noir $19.99

JoieFarm Winery 2012 Pinot Noir $24.00

Mission Hill Family Estate 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir $24.99

Pinot Noir over $25

Double gold

La Frenz 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir $32.00

Gold

SpierHead Winery 2012 Pinot Noir Gentleman Farmer $30.00

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2012 Pinot Noir $25.99

50th Parallel Estate Winery 2012 Pinot Noir $32.00

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2011 Pinot Noir $27.00

Silver

Quails’ Gate 2012 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir $45.00

JoieFarm 2012 En Famille Reserve Pinot Noir $40.90

Bronze

Privato Vineyard and Winery 2011 Pinot Noir $34.90

Stag’s Hollow Winery 2010 Renaissance Pinot Noir $35.00

Cabernet Franc Under $25

Gold

Desert Hills Estate Winery 2011 Cabernet Franc $21.90

Bronze

Intersection Estate Winery 2012 Unfiltered Cabernet Franc $24.90

Cabernet Franc Over $25

Double Gold

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2011 Cabernet Franc $33.00

Gold

River Stone Estate Winery 2012 Cabernet Franc $25.90

Perseus Winery 2011 Cabernet Franc $30.00

Silver

Stag’s Hollow Winery 2011 Cabernet Franc $28.00

Bronze

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2012 Cabernet Franc $26.95

Bordeaux Blends Under $25

Gold

Chaberton Estate Winery 2010 Valley Cab $15.95

Silver

Red Rooster Winery 2011 Cabernet Merlot $18.99

Bronze

Stag’s Hollow Winery 2011 Heritage Block $24.99

Wild Goose Vineyards and Winery 2012 Horizon $22.00

Bordeaux Blends Over $25

Gold

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2009 Meritage Reserve $30.00

Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 2009 Alagria $29.90

Isabella Winery 2010 Attribute $40.00

Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 2009 Obra-Prima $34.90

Silver

Lulu Island Winery 2012 Meritage $39.95

Hillside Winery 2009 Mosaic $39.99

Gold Hill Winery 2012 Family Reserve Meritage $34.90

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2011 Portfolio $42.00

Platinum Bench Estate Winery 2011 Meritage $34.90

Bronze

Serendipity Winery 2010 Serenata $39.90

Orofino 2010 Beleza $34.00

Gray Monk Estate Winery 2011 Odyssey Meritage $34.99

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2010 Tempest $45.00

Syrah/Shiraz Under $25

Gold

See Ya Later Ranch 2011 Rover $21.99

Silver

Stag’s Hollow Winery 2010 Syrah $25.00

Backyard Vineyards 2011 Syrah $21.99

Bronze

Perseus Winery 2012 Syrah $19.90

Isabella Winery 2012 Grand Reserve Syrah $25.00

Pentâge Winery 2011 Syrah $25.00

Syrah/Shiraz Over $25

Double Gold

Sandhill 2012 Small Lots Syrah Phantom Creek Vineyard $40.00

Gold

Silkscarf Winery 2009 Shiraz Reserve $40.00

Silver

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2011 Syrah $33.00

Hillside Winery 2011 Syrah $29.99

Bronze

Cassini Cellars 2010 Syrah Collector’s Series $29.00

Moon Curser Vineyards 2012 Contraband Syrah $29.00

Maréchal Foch

Double Gold

Celista Estate Winery 2012 Inspired Madness $18.90

Silver

St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery  2012 Oak Bay Maréchal Foch $20.00

Bronze

House of Rose Winery 2013 Maréchal Foch $20.00

Larch Hills Winery 2013 Maréchal Foch Reserve $16.90

Baco Noir

Silver

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2011 Baco Noir $24.95

Red Hybrid Blends

Gold

Volcanic Hills Estate Winery 2011 Magma Red $16.90

Blue Grouse Estate Winery 2012 Quill Red $19.00

Silver

Cherry Point Estate Wines 2011 Lagrimas Negras $29.80

Bronze

Averill Creek Vineyard 2010 Foch-Cab $18.00

Larch Hills Winery 2013 Grandview Bench $12.50

Mistaken Identity Vineyards 2013 Rosso $20.00

Other Single Red Vinifera

Double Gold

Church & State Wines  2011 Coyote Bowl Malbec  $34.90

Gold

Desert Hills Estate Winery 2013 Gamay $17.90

Stoneboat Vineyards 2011 Pinotage $24.90

Silver

Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 2010 Malbec $29.90

Arrowleaf Cellars 2011 Zweigelt $20.00

Bronze

Robin Ridge Winery 2012 Gamay $23.90

The View Winery 2012 Pinotage $24.50

Platinum Bench Estate Winery 2012 Gamay Block 28 $29.90

Other Red Vinifera Blends

Double Gold

Hester Creek Winery 2012 Character Red $19.95

Gold

Church & State Wines 2010 Coyote Bowl Petit Verdot Malbec $34.90

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2011 Athene $38.00

Bronze

Diabolica 2012 Diabolica Red Wine $15.99

Ruby Blues Winery n/v Red Stiletto $25.00

Soft Fruit Dry

Double Gold

Silverside Farm & Winery 2013 Tayberry Wine $20.00

Gold

Krause Berry Farms and Estate Winery 2013 Rhubarb $17.00

Silver

Silverside Farm & Winery 2013 Wild Blackberry Wine $20.00

Bronze

Blue Moon Estate Winery 2012 Dusk $17.90

Soft Fruit Off Dry

Gold

Damali Lavender & Winery 2013 Rhube Lavande $18.25

Silver

Krause Berry Farms and Estate Winery 2013 Tayberry $17.00

Soft Fruit Dessert

Double Gold

Isabella Winery 2013 Cranberries $18.00

Silver

Isabella Winery 2013 Raspberry Fruit Wine $18.00

Bronze

Rocky Creek Winery 2013 Wild Blackberry $19.90

Tree Fruit Dry

Double Gold

Blue Moon Estate Winery, BC 2012 Moon Shine $17.90

Silver

Blue Moon Estate Winery, BC 2012 Sirius $16.90

Bronze

Blue Moon Estate Winery, BC 2013 Moon Light $16.90

Tree Fruit Off Dry

Gold

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2013 Cherysh Cherry Rosé $19.95

Silver

Westham Island Estate Winery, BC n/v Peach $12.95

Bronze

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2013 Speachless $19.95

Tree Fruit Dessert

Gold

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2012 Impearfection Asian Pear $21.95

Fruit Fortifieds

Silver

Blue Moon Estate Winery 2013 Lunacy $21.90

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Cowichan Tawny $29.95

Bronze

Blue Moon Estate Winery 2013 The Big Bang $17.90

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2013 Caught Apricot Mistelle $26.95

Late Harvest

Gold

Arrowleaf Cellars 2013 Special Select Late Harvest Vidal $25.00

Silver

Harper’s Trail Estate Winery 2012 Late Harvest Riesling $20.90

Bronze

Mission Hill Family Estate 2012 Reserve Late Harvest Vidal $29.99

Riesling Icewine

Double Gold

Mission Hill Family Estate, BC 2012 Reserve Riesling Icewine $59.99

Gold

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2009 Grand Reserve Riesling Icewine $59.99

Silver

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2011 Reserve Riesling Icewine $52.99

Other Icewine

Silver

Isabella Winery 2012 5 in 1 Golden Maple $50.00

Bronze

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2011 Chardonnay Icewine $80.00

Red Icewine

Gold

Lulu Island Winery 2011 Red Icewine $95.00

Silver

Isabella Winery 2011 Merlot Icewine $60.00

Bronze

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2011 Syrah Icewine $108.00

Iced Ciders

Silver

Double Cross Cidery 2013 Fuji Iced Cider $25.00

Grape Fortifieds & Other Dessert

Gold

Black Sage Vineyard 2011 Pipe $24.99

Unsworth Vineyards n/v Ovation $21.40

Bronze

La Frenz Estate Winery n/v Tawny $22.00

Mead

Gold

Meadow Vista Honey Wines Ostara $21.90

Bronze

Meadow Vista Honey Wines Mabon $21.90