PENTICTON, British Columbia — An aged sparkling wine by Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate received the Premier’s Award as best in show for the 2015 British Columbia Wine Awards.
Dan Ashton, member of the BC Legislative Assembly, represented Premier Christy Clark in presenting the award for the Jackson-Triggs 2010 Entourage Brut on Thursday night during the BC Wine Awards Reception, which served as the opening event for the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society’s 35th annual Fall Okanagan Wine Festival.
The competition drew a record 562 entries, which led to 29 gold medals, 111 silver medals and 195 bronze medals. Seven of the gold-medal wines, including the J-T 2010 Entourage, were selected to receive platinum awards.
Cool vintage leads to Jackson-Triggs 2010 Brut
The Jackson-Triggs 2010 Entourage Brut is a bone-dry, 5-year-old methode Champenoise bubbly produced by winemaker Derek Kontkanen from a cool vintage in the Okanagan Valley. Kontkanen, recently appointed to winemaker of nearby Inniskillin Okanagan, earned a series of silver medals in international competitions for the 2010 Entourage before rising to the top of the judging staged Sept. 25-27 on the Penticton campus of Okanagan College.
Kismet Estate Winery in Oliver, a 20-minute drive from Oroville, Wash., received platinum medals for its 2013 Syrah and 2014 Riesling Icewine. Deepinder Gill makes the wines for his family, longtime growers in the South Okanagan who only opened their winery in 2014.
St. Hubertus Estate Winery in Kelowna impressed judges with its superb 2013 Oak Bay Gamay Noir. Last year, St. Hubertus founder Leo Gebert received the Founder’s Award for his three decades of winemaking and growing in the Okanagan Valley.
Tightrope Winery in Penticton, which amassed a double gold and four gold medals at the 2015 Great Northwest Wine Competition, won a platinum award at the BC Wine Awards for its 2012 Riesling.
Wild Goose Vineyards in Okanagan Falls — Wine Press Northwest magazine’s 2009 Pacific Northwest Winery of Year — continued its string of success with aromatic whites as its 2014 Gewürztraminer earned a platinum at BC Wine Awards.
Randy Picton and Nk’Mip Cellars, the aboriginal-owned winery in the lake resort town of Osoyoos, received three gold medals.
BC wine industry tops 300 wineries
British Columbia is home to a record 305 licensed wineries, an industry that has nearly doubled in the past six years, according to BDO Canada research.
This year, harvest began Aug. 12, the earliest recorded date in the province’s modern wine industry Early estimates for the 2015 vintage project a crush of 38,000 tons. Last year’s British Columbia Wine Grape Crop Report has not been released by the BC Wine Institute, but two years ago the industry crushed a record 31,383 tons. In 2014, Oregon crushed 78,000 tons, while Washington processed 227,000 tons.
35th Fall Okanagan Wine Festival spans 10 days
The BC Wine Awards represent the oldest and largest wine competition in the province, and it leads up to more than 120 wine-related events and lures 20,000 visitors to the Okanagan Valley. Tonight and Saturday night brings the popular Fall WestJet Wine Tastings.
Next week, the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival concludes with two new events as the country celebrates its Thanksgiving weekend. The inaugural Cropped is billed as Canada’s largest public tasting of BC wines at the farmer’s market in Penticton, and there also will be the farm-to-table Sparkling Brunch at Watermark Beach Resort in the border town of Osoyoos.
The late Jurgen Gothe, a Canadian Broadcasting Corp., radio personality and wine writer, was announced as the 2015 Founder’s Award recipient for his years of pioneering contributions in support of the province’s wine industry.
This year’s judging panel for the BC Wine Awards included Shelley Boettcher, contributor to CBC Radio and Flavours magazine, Calgary, Alberta; Sally Campa, sommelier/GM of Vino Volo, Vancouver, B.C.; Eric Degerman, president and CEO of Great Northwest Wine, Richland, Wash.; Paul Gregutt, writer for Wine Enthusiast, Waitsburg, Wash; Sebastien Le Goff, service director/sommelier of Cactus Restaurants, Vancouver, B.C.; Ben Macphee Sigurdson, columnist, Winnipeg (Manitoba) Free Press; Sharon McLean, sommelier/educator, Victoria, B.C.; Darren Oleksyn, columnist, Calgary (Alberta) Herald; Margaret Swaine, columnist, National Post, Toronto, Ontario; and Stephanie Yuen, columnist, Vancouver, B.C.
BC Wine Awards winners
Premier’s Award
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2010 Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut
Platinum medal
Kismet Estate Winery 2013 Syrah
Kismet Estate Winery 2014 Riesling Icewine
Sandhill Wines 2013 Phantom Creek Vineyard Small Lots Syrah
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery 2013 Oak Bay Gamay Noir
Tightrope Winery 2012 Riesling
Wild Goose Vineyards 2014 Gewürztraminer
Gold medal
Arrowleaf Cellars 2013 Solstice Pinot Noir
Blasted Church Vineyards 2013 Merlot
Cassini Cellars 2012 Maximus
Deep Roots Winery 2013 Syrah
Evolve Cellars 2013 Cabernet Merlot
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2013 Odyssey White Brut
Inniskillin Okanagan 2012 Dark Horse Estate Vineyard Riesling Icewine
Intrigue Wines 2014 Pinot Gris
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2012 Winemaker Series Riesling
MOCOJO WInery 2014 Viognier
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2014 Winemakers Series Dreamcatcher
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2013 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2014 Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine
Quails’ Gate 2013 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay
Red Rooster Winery 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir
Red Rooster Winery 2013 Reserve Merlot
Road 13 Vineyards 2011 Sparkling Chenin Blanc
Road 13 Vineyards 2014 Chip Off the Old Block Chenin Blanc
See Ya Later Ranch 2014 Chardonnay
Summerhill Pyramid Winery NV Cipes Brut
Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2014 Organic Dry Riesling
The Hatch 2013 Screaming Frenzy Pinot Noir
Silver medal
40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery Inc. 2014 Rosé
50th Parallel Estate 2013 Chardonnay
50th Parallel Estate 2014 Riesling
Arrowleaf Cellars 2012 Merlot
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery 2013 Cabernet Franc
Bench 1775 2014 Whistler Chardonnay Late Harvest
Bench 1775 2013 Whistler Sauvignon Blanc Icewine
Bench 1775 2014 Chill
Blasted Church Vineyards 2014 Mixed Blessings
Blasted Church Vineyards 2014 Hatfield’s Fuse
Blasted Church Vineyards 2013 Syrah
Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Winery 2013 Syrah
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2014 Small Lots Series Chardonnay
Cassini Cellars 2011 NOBILUS
Cassini Cellars 2012 Quattro
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 Chardonnay
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2012 Merlot Cabernet
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Platinum Riesling Icewine
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Gewürztraminer
Ciao Bella Winery 2014 Ciao Bella Pinot Rosé
Clos Du Soleil Winery 2014 Rosé
Conviction Winery 2014 Conviction Pinot Noir
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2013 Naughty Chardonnay
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2013 Pinot Noir
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Meritage
Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery 2013 Rock Wren Pinot Noir
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2014 Gewürztraminer Schonburger
Giant Head Estate Winery. 2014 Blanc de Noir
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2012 Odyssey Merlot
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2014 Ehrenfelser
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Gris
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2014 Character Red
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2014 Rosé Cabernet Franc
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2013 Selected Barrels Cabernet Merlot
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2013 Syrah Viognier
Hillside Winery & Bistro 2014 Reserve Viognier
Inniskillin Okanagan 2014 Riesling Icewine
Inniskillin Okanagan 2014 Okanagan Estate Series Chardonnay
Intrigue Wines 2014 Social White
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2014 Reserve Riesling Icewine
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2014 Grand Reserve Chardonnay
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2013 Reserve Shiraz
JoieFarm Winery 2014 A Noble Blend
Kismet Estate Winery 2013 Safed
Kismet Estate Winery 2013 Karma
Kismet Estate Winery 2013 Mantra
Kraze Legz Vineyard and Winery 2014 SKAHA Vineryard Mystique
Kraze Legz Vineyard and Winery 2014 SKAHA Vineyard Pinot Blanc
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2012 Pinot Noir
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2013 Semillon
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2012 Seven Poplars Chardonnay
Lang Vineyards 2014 Farm Reserve Riesling
Meadow Vista Honey Wines NV Cloud Horse
Mission Hill Family Estate 2014 Reserve Pinot Gris
Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Pinot Noir
Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Montakarn Estate Winery 2013 Marselan
Montakarn Estate Winery 2013 Bella Nola
Monte Creek Ranch Winery 2014 Riesling Icewine
Moon Curser Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Merlot
Moon Curser Vineyards 2012 Syrah
Moraine Estate Winery 2014 Cliffhanger White
Moraine Estate Winery 2014 Viognier
Moraine Estate Winery 2012 Pinot Noir
Niche Wine Co. 2014 Pinot Noir Blanc
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2013 Winemakers Series Merlot
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2012 Qwam Qwmt Mer’r’ym Meritage
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2013 Qwam Qwmt Syrah
Perseus Winery NV Sparkling Chardonnay
Perseus Winery 2013 Eclipse
Poplar Grove Winery 2011 The Legacy
Privato Vineyard and Winery 2013 Pinot Noir
Privato Vineyard and Winery 2013 Chardonnay
Quails’ Gate 2013 Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay
Quails’ Gate 2013 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir
Quails’ Gate 2013 Boswell Syrah
Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 2010 Alagria
Road 13 Vineyards 2013 Syrah Malbec
Road 13 Vineyards 2013 Honest John’s Red
Road 13 Vineyards 2011 Jackpot Cabernet Sauvignon
Rollingdale Winery 2013 Rollingdale Organic Pinot Gris Icewine
Ruby Blues Winery 2013 Reserve Syrah
Ruby Blues Winery 2014 Commune Gewürztraminer
Sandhill Wines 2012 Small Lots Petit Verdot Phantom Creek Vineyard
Sandhill Wines 2013 Cabernet Merlot Vanessa Vineyard
Sandhill Wines 2012 Small Lots Two Sandhill Estate Vineyard
See Ya Later Ranch 2013 Rover
Silkscarf Winery 2014 Saignee
Silkscarf Winery 2014 Ensemble Blanc
Silkscarf Winery 2014 Riesling Muscat
SpierHead Winery 2013 Pinot Noir Cuvée
SpierHead Winery 2013 Pinot Noir
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery 2013 Riesling
Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard 2013 Tempranillo
Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard 2014 Renaissance Grenache
Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2014 Ehrenfelser
The Hatch 2013 Dynasty Red
The View Winery 2014 Silver Lining Estate Red
Therapy Vineyards 2014 Fizzio Therapy Blanc
Therapy Vineyards 2014 Freudian Sip
Tightrope Winery 2014 Pinot Gris
Tightrope Winery 2014 Tip-Toe
Tightrope Winery 2014 Riesling
Tightrope Winery 2014 Viognier
TIME Estate Winery 2014 Cabernet Franc
Vanessa Vineyard 2012 Syrah
Wayne Gretzky Okanagan 2014 Signature Series Pinot Noir
Wild Goose Vineyards 2012 Merlot
Wild Goose Vineyards 2014 Autumn Gold
Wild Goose Vineyards 2013 Stoney Slope Riesling
Bronze medal
50th Parallel Estate 2013 Pinot Noir
50th Parallel Estate 2014 Gewürztraminer
50th Parallel Estate 2014 Pinot Gris
50th Parallel Estate 2014 Pinot Noir Rosé
Adega on 45th Estate Winery 2012 Alfredo Reserve
Arrowleaf Cellars 2014 First Crush White
Arrowleaf Cellars 2014 Bacchus
Arrowleaf Cellars 2013 Pinot Noir
Arrowleaf Cellars 2014 Snow Tropics
Arrowleaf Cellars 2014 Riesling
Arrowleaf Cellars 2014 Vidal Select Late Harvest
Arrowleaf Cellars 2014 Pinot Gris
Arrowleaf Cellars 2014 First Crush Rosé
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery 2014 Récolte Blanche
BC Wine Studio 2012 Siren’s Call Harmonious
Bench 1775 2013 Groove
Black Sage Vineyard 2013 Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Black Sage Vineyard 2013 Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Black Sage Vineyard 2013 Black Sage Vineyard Shiraz
Black Sage Vineyard 2013 Black Sage Vineyard Merlot
Blasted Church Vineyards 2014 Pinot Gris
Blasted Church Vineyards 2014 Unorthodox Chardonnay
Blasted Church Vineyards 2014 Big Bang Theory
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2014 The Quest
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2012 Syrah
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2014 Small Lot Series Viognier
Cana Vines 2013 The First Sign
Cana Vines 2011 Best for Last
Cassini Cellars 2014 Pinot Noir
Cassini Cellars 2012 The Aristocrat Cabernet Sauvignon
Cassini Cellars 2013 Reserve Chardonnay
Cassini Cellars 2014 Viognier
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2012 Merlot
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Platinum Block 3 Riesling
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Ehrenfelser
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2012 Platinum Merlot
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2012 Estate Meritage
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Gris
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Platinum Viognier
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 Platinum Block 2 Pinot Noir
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2012 Platinum Meritage
Clos Du Soleil Winery 2013 Saturn
Conviction Winery 2014 Conviction White
Conviction Winery 2014 Pinot Grigio
Corcelettes Estate Winery 2011 Meritage
Deep Roots Winery 2014 Frosted Pinot
Deep Roots Winery 2014 Pinot Gris
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2013 Say Yes Pinot Gris
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2013 Kay Syrah
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2014 Hush
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards 2010 Buddhafull
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Franc
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards 2014 Riesling
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards 2014 Cinq Blanc
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards 2014 Gewürztraminer
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards 2012 Buddhafull
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards 2013 Malbec
Fern Walk 2014 Sauvignon Blanc
Forbidden Fruit Winery 2014 Pomme Desiree Iced Apple
Forbidden Fruit Winery 2012 Dead End No Return
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Chardonnay
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Cabernet Franc
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Riesling
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2014 Old Vines Auxerrois
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2014 Summer Night
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2014 Late Harvest Cabernet Franc
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2014 Optimum Pinot Gris
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2014 Desert Sun
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Auxerrois
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2013 Reflection
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2012 Cabernet Merlot
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2013 Riesling
Harper’s Trail 2013 Chardonnay
Harper’s Trail 2013 Pioneer Block Dry Riesling
Harper’s Trail 2014 Merlot
Heaven’s Gate Estate Winery 2012 Merlot Malbec
Heaven’s Gate Estate Winery 2013 Gamay Noir
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2013 Selected Barrels Merlot
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2014 Character White
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Blanc
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2013 Late Harvest Pinot Blanc
Hidden Chapel Winery 2012 Shotgun Wedding
Hillside Winery 2012 Old Vines Gamay Noir
Hillside Winery 2012 Pinot Noir
Inniskillin Okanagan 2012 Discovery Series Tempranillo Icewine
Inniskillin Okanagan 2014 Okanagan Estate Pinot Grigio
Inniskillin Okanagan 2013 Dark Horse Vineyard Meritage
Inniskillin Okanagan 2011 Discovery Series Zinfandel
Inniskillin Okanagan 2013 Vidal Icewine
Inniskillin Okanagan 2012 Dark Horse Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Inniskillin Okanagan 2014 Reserve Pinot Gris
Intrigue Wines 2014 Chardonnay
Intrigue Wines NV I Do
Intrigue Wines 2014 Gewürztraminer
Intrigue Wines 2014 Riesling
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2012 SunRock Vineyard Illumina
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2014 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2011 SunRock Meritage
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2011 SunRock Shiraz
JoieFarm Winery 2013 Pinot Noir
JoieFarm Winery 2013 Gamay
Kraze Legz Vineyard and Winery 2012 SKAHA Vineyard Merlot
Kraze Legz Vineyard and Winery 2014 SKAHA Vineyard Rosé
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2014 Pinot Blanc
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2013 Lake Breeze Merlot
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2014 Rosé
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2014 Ehrenfelser
Lang Vineyards 2013 Syrah
Lang Vineyards 2014 Marechal Foch
Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Chardonnay
MOCOJO WInery 2014 Rosé
Monster Vineyards 2013 Cabs
Montakarn Estate Winery 2014 Tippy Toe
Moon Curser Vineyards 2012 Petit Verdot
Moon Curser Vineyards 2013 Dead of Night
Moon Curser Vineyards 2014 Arneis
Moon Curser Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
Moon Curser Vineyards 2012 Border Vines
Moon Curser Vineyards 2013 Carmenere
Moon Curser Vineyards 2012 Malbec
Moraine Estate Winery 2014 Twin Peaks Ice Wine
Moraine Estate Winery 2013 Malbec
Moraine Estate Winery 2012 Red Mountain
Moraine Estate Winery 2013 Syrah
Moraine Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir
Moraine Estate Winery 2014 Riesling
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2014 Winemakers Series Pinot Blanc
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2013 Qwam Qwmt Merlot
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2014 Winemakers Series Rosé
Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2013 Stony Knoll Chardonnay
Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2011 “The One”
Perseus Winery 2013 Chardonnay Select Lots
Perseus Winery 2013 Invictus
Poplar Grove Winery 2012 Merlot
Poplar Grove Winery 2012 Syrah
Quails’ Gate 2013 Pinot Noir
Quails’ Gate 2013 Richard’s Block Pinot Noir
Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 2010 Merlot
Recline Ridge Vineyards and Winery 2014 Make Me Blush
Red Rooster Winery 2014 Riesling
Red Rooster Winery 2014 Red Rooster Pinot Noir
Road 13 Vineyards 2011 Fifth Element
Road 13 Vineyards 2012 Seventy-Four K
Ruby Blues Winery 2014 White Stiletto
Ruby Blues Winery 2014 Commune Pinot Gris
Ruby Blues Winery NV Red Stiletto
Sandhill Wines 2014 Chardonnay Sandhill Estate Vineyard
Sandhill Wines 2013 Syrah Vanessa Vineyard
Sandhill Wines 2014 Pinot Gris King Family Vineyard
Sandhill Wines 2013 Pinot Blanc Sandhill Estate Vineyard
Sandhill Wines 2012 Small Lots Barbera Sandhill Estate Vineyard
See Ya Later Ranch 2014 Gewürztraminer
See Ya Later Ranch 2012 Major’s Block
See Ya Later Ranch 2013 Pinot Noir
Silkscarf Winery 2014 Viognier
Silkscarf Winery 2014 Roussanne Viognier
Silkscarf Winery 2014 Pinot Noir
SpierHead Winery 2014 Chardonnay
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery 2014 Great White North
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery 2013 Gewürztraminer
Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard 2012 Heritage Block
Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard 2012 Renaissance Merlot
Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard 2013 Syrah
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2014 Private Reserve Pinot Grigio
Summerhill Pyramid Winery NV Cipes Rosé
Sunnybrae Vineyards & Winery 2013 Siegerrebe
The Hatch 2013 Dynasty White
The Hatch NV Octobubble Brut Rosé
The View Winery 2014 Pinotage Reserve
Therapy Vineyards 2014 Sauvignon Blanc
Therapy Vineyards 2013 Pinot Noir
Thornhaven Estates Winery 2014 Brookly’s Blend
Thornhaven Estates Winery 2014 Infusion
Thornhaven Estates Winery 2013 Syrah
Tightrope Winery 2013 Viognier
TIME Estate Winery 2013 Sundial
TIME Estate Winery 2012 McWatters Collection Meritage
TIME Estate Winery 2013 Syrah
TIME Estate Winery 2014 Meritage (White)
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012 Oldfield Series Merlot
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2014 Pinot Gris
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2014 Oldfield Series 2Bench White
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2014 Gewürztraminer
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012 Oldfield Series Cabernet Franc
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2014 Gewürztraminer
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
Upper Bench Winery & Creamery 2013 Riesling
Upper Bench Winery & Creamery 2012 Merlot
Vanessa Vineyard 2012 Meritage
Wild Goose Vineyards 2014 Pinot Gris
Wild Goose Vineyards 2012 Red Horizon Meritage
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