Friday, May 10, 2013

Report from ... Ontario Wine Awards 2013 – May 10, 2013


The 19th Annual Ontario Wine Awards were held Friday night at the Queen's Landing Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake hosted by celebrity TV chef Christine Cushing.
Tony Aspler kicks off the night
Big winners this evening were Malivoire, winning three Golds for Chardonnay, Gamay and Merlot along with 3 other awards for a total of six.  Tawse took two Golds (Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon) on their way to collecting five medals.  While Inniskillin with 5 awards (including two in the Vidal Icewine category) and sister winery Jackson-Triggs took four medals for a haul of 9 for Vincor.  Chateau des Charmes and Angels Gate took home 4 medals each. 

White Wine of the Year was won by 3 time winner (in a row) in the Chardonnay category Exultet for their ‘The Blessed’. Red Wine of the Year was taken by Pillitteri for their Exclamation Cabernet Franc

There were no Golds handed out in the Gewurztraminer, Red Hybrid, Syrah/Shiraz and Blended White categories.  No surprise that a Creekside property took the Blended red Award, that’s their fifth year in a row.  There were also 5 categories that saw ties for top spot.

Winemaker of the Year went to Marlize Beyers of Hidden Bench, obviously caught totally off-guard, and by surprise, her acceptance speech was about how proud she was to be part of the Ontario wine community and to be a winemaker. 

And the Gold Medal winning wines are …
The rest of the winners, in the silver and bronze categories, can be found at www.ontariowineawards.ca.

Sparkling Wine –
13th Street 2008 Premier Cuvee
Huff Estates 2007 Cuvee Peter F Huff

Dry Riesling –
Flat Rock Cellars 2010 Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling
Daniel Lenko Estate 2009 Reserve Riesling

Semi-Dry Riesling –
Tawse 2010 Carly’s Block Riesling

Dry White Varietal –
Inniskillin 2012 Reserve Viognier

Gewurztraminer –
No Gold Awarded

Pinot Blanc / Pinot Gris –
Stoney Ridge Cellars 2011 Pinot Gris Excellence

Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon –
Angels Gate 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Oaked Chardonnay (under $20) -
Rockway Vineyards 2011 Small Lot Reserve Chardonnay

Oaked Chardonnay (over $20) -
Exultet Estates 2011 The Blessed Chardonnay*
*Exultet has won in this category 3 years in a row
*winner of the White Wine of the Year Award
Stoney Ridge Cellars 2010 Chardonnay Excellence

Unoaked Chardonnay –
Malivoire Wine Company 2010 Musque Spritz

Rosé / Blanc de Noir -
Southbrook Vineyards 2011 Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rosé

Gamay –
Malivoire Wine Company 2012 Gamay

Pinot Noir –
Willow Springs 2010 Testa Pinot Noir

Red Hybrid –
No Gold Awarded

Cabernet Sauvignon –
Tawse 2010 Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc –
Pillitteri Estates 2010 Exclamation Cabernet Franc Reserve*
*winner of the Red Wine of the Year Award
Hillebrand Estates 2010 Showcase Red Shale Cabernet Franc ‘Clark Farm Vineyard’

Merlot –
Malivoire Wine Company 2010 Stouck Merlot
Peller Estates 2010 Signature Series Merlot

Syrah/Shiraz –
No Gold Awarded

Meritage and Cabernet/Merlot Blends –
Jackson-Triggs 2010 Delaine Cabernet Merlot

Late Harvest –
Konzelmann Estate 2011 Special Select Late Harvest Vidal
*second year in a row Konzelmann has won this category

Vidal Icewine –
Jackson-Triggs 2008 Proprietors’ Reserve Vidal Icewine

Vinifera Icewine –
Chateau des Charmes 2009 Riesling Icewine, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard

Blended Red Award –
Creekside Estate 2007 Lost Barrel Red
*fifth year in a row a Creekside property has won this award

Blended White Award –
No Gold Awarded

Best Label Design Award –
Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Franc Reserve

Winemaker of the Year -
Marlize Beyers – Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery

Wine Journalism Award -
Stephen Elphick

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