B.C. awards feature varietals for all tastes
Today it’s over to the judges of the 2018 B.C. Best of Varietal Awards and Competition held earlier this month at the 24th Spring Okanagan Wine Festival.
The competition attracted 572 wines slotted into 34 categories by grape varietal. Eighteen judges narrowed the field to a quarter of the entries before re-tasting and declaring an overall winner in the main classes: white wines under $19 and over $19, and reds under $26 and over $26, each with a minimum 10 entries.
Sparkling wine in B.C. has upped its game in recent years and this time Gray Monk Odyssey Rose Brut 2016 grabbed best fizz honours. The Chardonnay category produced only one winner and it’s an under-$19 bargain: Inniskillin Okanagan Dark Horse Chardonnay 2016.
The best of the aromatics under $19 went to Creston’s Baillie- Grohman Gewurztraminer 2017 and Evolve Cellars Riesling 2016; the latter was also awarded top prize of best varietal of the year.
The over-$19 aromatic winners went to Lang Vineyards Gewurztraminer 2017 and the Summerhill Pyramid Winery Organic Riesling 2016.
Viognier is now a category outside of all single white varieties and Naramata-based Red Rooster Rare Bird Series Viognier 2017 won the day. The top Sauvignon Blanc for the second year in a row was Gehringer Brothers Dry Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2017.
The white single varieties under/over $19 went to Wild Goose Mystic River Pinot Blanc 2017 and Hillside Winery Muscat Ottonel 2017.
In the run for the roses, the best under-$19 pink went to Lake Country and the pure Arrowleaf Cellars Rose 2017; Summerland’s The View Winery Pinotage Rose 2017 topped all rose over-$19 flights.
The Pinot Gris selection under $19 goes to Oliver-based Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Grigio 2017, while Lake Country’s 50th Parallel Pinot Gris 2017 took the plus-$19 flights with its refreshing style.
Naramata’s Therapy Vineyards Pinot Noir 2016 charmed the judges for less than $26, while perennial favourite Quail’s Gate Pinot Noir 2016 from West Kelowna took home the premium plus $26 category.
Among the big reds, Naramata Bench 1775 Winery grabbed the Cabernet Franc title with its juicy, savoury 2013 offering.
Syrah, one of the most promising B.C. varietals, was awarded to Black Sage Bench-based Black Hills Syrah 2014. The best Merlot under $26 goes to another Lake Country producer, Gray Monk Odyssey Merlot 2014. The Naramata Bench-based Serendipity Merlot 2012 took the plus-$26 flight.
The surging Cabernet Franc category saw Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2015 take the under-$26 prize, while newcomer Indigenous World Winery Cabernet Franc 2015 grabbed the over-$26 prize.
The under/over-$26 Syrah bragging rights went to Moon Curser Vineyards Syrah 2015 and Nk’Mip Cellars Winery, Qwam Qwmt Syrah 2015.
This year’s solo Cabernet Sauvignon winner went to Osoyoosbased Bordertown Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. One-off single varietals under/over $26 went to Quinta Ferreira Malbec 2013 and Sandhill Small Lots Petit Verdot 2015.
Technically blends are not varietal wines, but there were red categories for meritage (a
mix of Bordeaux varieties) and other blends. The best other blend under/over $26 went to to Wayne Gretzky Okanagan Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2016 and vinAmite Cellars Hidden Corner 2015.
The Meritage winner at plus $26 was Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate SunRock Red Meritage 2015, while under $26 went
to See Ya Later Ranch Ping Meritage 2015. The best white blend under $19 went to the View Winery Silver Lining Estate White 2017, while the plus $19 was Time Winery White Meritage 2017. Finally, the dessert wines winners to look for are Northern Lights Estate Winery Seduction 2017 and the Inniskillin Okanagan Reserve Vidal Icewine.