Wine quality in Canada has skyrocketed over the past several years. Wines previously considered impossible for such northern climes, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, are now winning medals.
In June 2006 fifteen Canadian judges met in Calgary to evaluate almost 1,000 Canadian wines with a view of identifying Canada’s finest products and best values. The judging was held under the auspices of Wine Access Magazine and the results published in the October/November 2007 issue.
Apart from Canada’s legendary ice wine, most of the gold medals were awarded to red wines — a surprise. About half the categories did not receive gold medals and are not included in this report. A disproportionate number of gold medal winners went to unusual or experimental varietals, such as Siegerrebe, Nuit Blanche, and Malbec. The Finger Lakes District in New York State is experimenting with a new generation of hybrids; we expect some of these to migrate to Ontario if they prove successful.
Among traditional French and German varietals, the nod went to oaked Chardonnay and Riesling. Favored reds were BC Cabernet Franc and Syrah and, surprisingly, ON Cabernet Sauvignon—both table wine and ice wine versions.
The Gold Medal Winners for 2006
CHARDONNAY, OAK
- Tawse 2004 Beamsville Bench Reserve Chardonnay, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, ON
OTHER WHITES (NON AROMATIC WHITE BLENDS & SINGLE VARIETY, MERITAGE WHITE, OTHER SINGLE AROMATICS, WHITE BLENDS AROMATIC)
- Gray Monk 2006 Siegerrebe, Okanagan Valley, BC
- Hidden Bench 2005 Nuit Blanche, Rosomel Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, ON
- Joie 2006 A Noble Blend, Okanagan Valley, BC
- Wild Goose 2006 Autumn Gold, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, BC
DRY RIESLING
- Hidden Bench 2005 Estate Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, ON
OTHER REDS (VINIFERA SINGLE VARIETY, RED BLEND NON BORDEAUX, HYBRIDS)
- Red Rooster 2006 Malbec, Okanagan Valley, BC
CABERNET FRANC
- Burrowing Owl 2005 Cabernet Franc, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, BC
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
- Creekside Estate 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, ON
MERITAGE RED
- Laughing Stock Vineyards 2005 Portfolio, Okanagan Valley, BC
- Magnotta 2003 Enotrium, Niagara Peninsula, ON
SYRAH/SHIRAZ
- Cedar Creek 2005 Estate Select Syrah, Okanagan Valley, BC
- Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2005 SunRock Vineyard Shiraz, Okanagan Valley, BC
RIESLING ICEWINE
- Inniskillin Okanagan 2006 Riesling Icewine, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, BC
- Mission Hill Family Estate 2006 Five Vineyards Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, BC (187 ml *Available only in U.S.)
- Mission Hill Family Estate 2006 Riesling Icewine Reserve, Okanagan Valley, BC
VIDAL ICEWINE
- Château des Charmes 2006 Vidal Icewine, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, ON
- Jackson-Triggs Niagara 2005 Proprietors' Reserve Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, ON
OTHER ICEWINE (SINGLE WHITE VARIETAL, RED VARIETAL)
- Konzelmann Estate 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, ON
FRUIT AND OTHER WINES (including Iced Apple)
- Downey's Estate 2006 Framboise Raspberry Dessert Wine, ON
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