Mystic River site produces another award for Wild Goose Vineyards

Wild Goose Vineyards, led by winemaker Hagen Kruger, second from left, continues to pull award-winning wines from its Mystic River Vineyard just north of the town of Oliver, British Columbia. (Photo courtesy of Wild Goose Vineyards)

OKANAGAN FALLS, British Columbia – Wild Goose Vineyards in Okanagan Falls has received a record eighth Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in British Columbia wines, this time for its 2012 Mystic River Vineyard Pinot Blanc.

Only 12 wines out of 402 entries were recognized, and no small winery in the province has won as many Lt. Governor’s Awards as Wild Goose. Second-generation winemaker Hagen Kruger won the family’s first with his 2004 God’s Mountain Riesling.

Hagen Kruger is the second-generation winemaker at Wild Goose Vineyards in Okanagan Falls, British Columbia. (Eric Degerman/Great Northwest Wine)

This marks the third time that Mystic River Vineyard – one of three estate plantings – has produced a winning wine for the family. This list includes the 2005 Pinot Gris, 2005 Mystic River Gewürztraminer, 2007 Autumn Gold, 2007 Pinot Gris, 2008 Pinot Gris and 2010 Mystic River Pinot Blanc.

During the 13-year history of Wine Press Northwest’s year-end, best-of-the-best Platinum Judging, Mystic River Vineyard has produced three double Platinums and two Platinums. And last year, that vineyard dominated. The Wild Goose 2011 Mystic River Vineyard Gewürztraminer was the top white wine of the judging, No. 2 overall. The 2011 Mystic River Vineyard Pinot Gris finished right behind, No. 3 overall.

“It is the vineyard, but as the winemaker, I don’t like to say that,” Kruger told Great Northwest Wine earlier this month. “I’ve said for a while that if they start creating Grand Crus in North America, Mystic River belongs. The grapes in that vineyard are very consistent, and that wine is always winning awards for us.”

Each winery is limited to four entries for the Lt. Governor Award of Excellence, and 109 wineries in the province competed for a top award. According to Kruger, the dynamics of Mystic River Vineyard just north of the town of Oliver, give Wild Goose an advantage.

“The geology is quite interesting,” he said. “It’s right alongside the river, and there’s a lot of organic material down in the river back over the crest of the hill — a layer of topsoil up. But underneath, there’s gravel so it’s very well drained. It gives the vines the best of both worlds — rich top soil and good drainage underneath.”

Lt. Gov. Judith Guichon will visit Wild Goose Vineyards on July 25 to present the award to the Krugers.

The other winning wines were Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc, Calona Vineyards 2011 Artist Series Pinot Noir, Church & State Wines 2010 Coyote Bowl Syrah, Eau Vivre Winery 2010 Pinot Noir, Hester Creek Estate Winery 2010 Block 3 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Winery 2011 Riesling Icewine, Red Rooster Winery’s 2010 Reserve Viognier and 2010 Reserve Syrah, Stag’s Hollow Winery 2010 Limited Edition Cachet No. 03, Stoneboat Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir and Synchromesh Wines 2010 Storm Haven Vineyard Riesling.

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