
PENTICTON, British Columbia – Andy Gebert, winemaker and co-owner of St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery in Kelowna, used his 2013 Estate Riesling to earn Wine of the Year honors at the 2016 British Columbia Best of Varietal Wine Awards.
The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society announced the competition results Thursday to officially launch of the 22nd annual Spring Okanagan Wine Festival. A record 567 entries were evaluated among 24 categories, and the 15 judges determined the best of show among the 122 finalists. The judging is open to all licensed B.C. wineries that use 100 percent fruit grown in the province.
Wineries receiving two best-of-class awards included Tinhorn Creek Vineyards on Oliver’s Golden Mile Bench (2013 Cabernet Franc, 2012 Oldfield Series Merlot), Arrowleaf Cellars in Salmon Arm (2015 Pinot Gris, 2015 Snow Tropics) and CedarCreek Estate Winery (Estate Chardonnay 2014, Senator’s Red 2013).
Wild Goose Vineyards earned three gold medals for aromatic white wines, led by best of class for its 2015 Mystic River Gewürztraminer.
British Columbia Best of Varietal Wine Awards results
Wine of the Year – St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery 2013 St. Hubertus Vineyard Riesling
Best Cabernet Franc – Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Franc
Best Cabernet Sauvignon – Black Sage Vineyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Chardonnay – CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Estate Chardonnay
Best Dessert Style Wine – Golden Age Meadery Hearth and Fire Mead
Best Gewürztraminer – Wild Goose Vineyards 2015 Mystic River Gewürztraminer
Best Icewine – Inniskillin Okanagan 2012 Dark Horse Vineyard Riesling Icewine
Best Merlot – Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012 Oldfield Series Merlot
Best North American Hybrid – Monte Creek Ranch Winery 2015 Frontenac Gris
Best Pinot Blanc – Evolve Cellars 2014 Pinot Blanc
Best Pinot Gris – Arrowleaf Cellars 2015 Pinot Gris
Best Pinot Noir – Ciao Bella Winery 2014 Pinot Nero
Best Red Meritage Blend, Cabernet dominated – Cassini Cellars 2012 Maximus Collector’s Series
Best Red Meritage Blend, Merlot dominated – Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 201- Obra Prima
Best Red Blend – Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Winery 2013 Living Desert Red
Best Single Red Other Variety – Sandhill Vineyards Esate Wines 2013 Small Lots Sandhill Estate Vineyard Barbera
Best Single White Other Variety – Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2015 Muscat
Best Riesling – St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery 2013 St. Hubertus Vineyard Riesling
Best Rosé – Perseus Winery 2015 Pinot Noir Rosé
Best Sauvignon Blanc – Therapy Vineyards 2015 Sauvignon Blanc
Best Sparkling – Gray Monk Estate Winery 2012 Odyssey Rosé Brut
Best Syrah/Shiraz – Bench 1775 2013 Syrah
Best Syrah-Based Blend – CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 Senator’s Red
Best Viognier – Black Hills Estate Winery 2014 Viognier
Best White Blend – Arrowleaf Cellars 2015 Snow Tropics
Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Black Sage Vineyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold
Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver
Perseus Winery 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Select Lots
Pinot Noir
Best Pinot Noir
Ciao Bella Winery 2014 Pinot Nero
Gold
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir
Silver
La Frenz Winery 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir
Privato Vineyard and Winery 2013 Fedele Pinot Noir
Arrowleaf Cellars 2014 Pinot Noir
Lake Breeze Vineyards 2012 Home Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
50th Parallel Estate 2013 Pinot Noir
SpierHead Winery 2014 GFV Saddle Block Pinot Noir
Merlot
Best Merlot
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012 Oldfield Series Merlot
Gold
Hugging Tree Winery 2012 Moonchild Merlot
Silver
Blasted Church Vineyards 2013 Merlot
Arrowleaf Cellars 2013 Merlot
Bench 1775 2013 Merlot
Culmina Family Estate Winery 2013 Merlot
Syrah/Shiraz
Best Syrah
Bench 1775 2013 Syrah
Gold
Nighthawk Vineyards 2012 Syrah
See Ya Later Ranch 2014 Rover-Shiraz/Viognier
Silver
Black Hills Estate Winery 2013 Syrah
Red Rooster Winery 2013 Reserve Syrah
Cabernet Franc
Best Cabernet Franc
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Franc
Silver
Kraze Legz Winery 2013 Skaha Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Harper’s Trail 2014 Cabernet Franc
Other Single Red Varietal
Best Single Red Variety
Sandhill Vineyards Estate Wines 2013 Small Lots Sandhill Estate Vineyard Barbera
Gold
Moon Curser Vineyards 2012 Tannat
Blasted Church Vineyards 2013 Holy Moly
Sandhill Vineyards Estate Wines 2014 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Gamay Noir
Silver
The View Winery & Vineyard 2014 Pinotage Reserve
Inniskillin Okanagan 2013 Discovery Series Tempranillo
Sandhill Vineyards Estate Wines 2013 Small Lots Phantom Creek Vineyard Petit Verdot
Red Meritage Blend (Cabernet dominated)
Best Cabernet-Dominated Meritage Blend
Cassini Cellars 2012 Maximus Collector’s Series
Gold
Blasted Church Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Merlot
Hidden Chapel Winery 2011 Trilogy
Silver
vinPerdu Cellars 2014 Compass
Moon Curser Vineyards 2013 Border Vines
Red Meritage Blend (Merlot Dominated)
Best Merlot Dominated Meritage Blend
Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 2010 Obra Prima
Gold
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2014 Cab/Merlot
Serendipity Winery 2011 Serenata Reserve
Silver
River Stone Estate Winery 2012 Estate Cornerstone
Kismet Estate Winery 2013 Mantra
Syrah Based Blend
Best Syrah Based Blend
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 Senator’s Red
Gold
Thornhaven Estates Winery 2014 XV
Silver
Ruby Blues Winery 2014 Black Stiletto
Cassini Cellars 2012 Quattro Collector’s Series
Red Blend
Best Red Blend
Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Winery 2013 Living Desert Red
Silver
Perseus Winery 2013 Eclipse Select Lots
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2012 SunRock Vineyard Illumina
Montakarn Winery 2013 Angel Share
Tightrope Winery 2014 Vertigo
Riesling
Best Riesling
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery 2013 St. Hubertus Vineyard Riesling
Gold
Moraine Estate Winery 2015 Riesling
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2013 Riesling
Silver
50th Parallel Estate 2015 Riesling
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Estate Riesling
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2014 Riesling
Chardonnay
Best Chardonnay
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Estate Chardonnay
Gold
Monster Vineyards 2015 Skinny Dip Chardonnay
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2013 Family Reserve Chardonnay
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Chardonnay
Silver
Intrigue Wines 2015 Chardonnay
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2015 Unwooded Chardonnay
Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2014 Stony Knoll Chardonnay
Poplar Grove Winery 2015 Chardonnay
Pinot Gris
Best Pinot Gris
Arrowleaf Cellars 2015 Pinot Gris
Gold
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2014 Say Yes Pinot Gris
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2015 Pinot Gris
Silver
Harper’s Trail 2013 Pinot Gris
Red Rooster Winery 2015 Reserve Pinot Gris
Therapy Vineyards 2015 Pinot Gris
Peller Estates Vineyards Estate Wines 2015 Family Series Pinot Gris
Kitsch Wines 2015 Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Best Pinot Blanc
Evolve Cellars 2014 Pinot Blanc
Gold
Peller Estates Vineyards 2014 Family Series Pinot Blanc
Wild Goose Vineyards 2015 Mystic River Pinot Blanc
Silver
Kraze Legz Winery 2015 Skaha Vineyard Pinot Blanc
Red Rooster Winery 2015 Pinot Blanc
Gewürztraminer
Best Gewürztraminer
Wild Goose Vineyards 2014 Mystic River Gewürztraminer
Gold
Ruby Blues Winery 2015 Commune Gewürztraminer
Thornhaven Estates Winery 2015 Gewürztraminer
Silver
Red Rooster Winery 2015 Gewürztraminer
Sauvignon Blanc
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Therapy Vineyards 2015 Sauvignon Blanc
Silver
La Frenz Winery 2014 Rattlesnake Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Sandhill Vineyards Estate Wines 2015 Hidden Terrace Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Viognier
Best Viognier
Black Hills Estate Winery 2014 Viognier
Gold
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2015 Viognier
Silver
Bench 1775 2015 Viognier
Sandhill Vineyards Estate Wines 2015 Osprey Ridge Vineyard Viognier
Other Mixed White Varietal
Best Mixed White Varietal
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2015 Muscat
Gold
La Frenz Winery 2015 Rattlesnake Vineyard Alexandria
Silver
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2014 Kerner
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2015 Ehrenfelser
White Blend
Best White Blend
Arrowleaf Cellars 2015 Snow Tropics
Gold
Montakarn Winery 2013 Tippy Toe Oaked
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2014 Gewürztraminer-Schonburger
Wild Goose Vineyards 2015 Autumn Gold
Silver
The View Winery & Vineyard 2014 Silver Lining Estate White
Cassini Cellars 2013 Roussanne/Marsanne
Wayne Gretzky Okanagan 2014 Wayne Gretzky No.99 The Great White
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery 2014 Winemaker’s Dreamcatcher
Sparkling
Best Sparkling Wine
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2012 Odyssey Rosé Brut
Gold
Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2008 Cipes Blanc de Noirs
Maverick Estate Winery 2013 Ella
Silver
Haywire Winery at Okanagan Crush Pad 2014 The Bub
Rosé/Blush
Best Rosé
Perseus Winery 2015 Pinot Noir Rosé
Gold
Poplar Grove 2015 Blanc de Noirs
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery 2015 Blanc de Noirs Rosé
Silver
The Hatch 2015 Screaming Frenzy Pink Elephant
Serendipity Winery 2015 Rosé
The View Winery & Vineyard 2015 Voulez View Rosé
The View Winery & Vineyard 2015 Silver Lining Estate Rosé
Icewine
Best Icewine
Inniskillin Okanagan 2012 Dark Horse Vineyard Riesling Icewine
Gold
Inniskillin Okanagan 2014 Riesling Icewine
Nk’Mip Cellars 2014 Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine
Silver
Inniskillin Okanagan 2012 Discovery Series Tempranillo Icewine
Late Harvest/Dessert/Port-style/Honey
Best Dessert Style Wine
Golden Age Meadery NV Hearth and Fire Mead
Gold
Bench 1775 2014 Whistler Late Harvest Chardonnay
Silver
Black Sage Vineyard 2008 Pipe
North American Hybrids
Best North American Hybrid
Monte Creek Ranch Winery 2015 Frontenac Gris
Silver
Celista Estate Winery 2014 Oak Barrel Reserve Foch
Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Organic Marechal Foch
22nd annual BC Best of Varietal panelists

The Best of Varietal Wine Awards is facilitated by Marjorie King. This year’s judging was staged April 7 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Center. The panel included:
James Addington – food and beverage Manager, Delta Grand Resort, Kelowna
Shelley Boettcher – freelance writer, Calgary
Dennis Dwernychuk – senior product consultant, BC Liquor Stores, Kelowna
Mark Filatow – executive chef/owner, Waterfront Wines, Kelowna
Simon Gillett – sommelier, Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos
Geoff Last – general manager, Bin 905, Calgary
Martin Lewis – co-owner, Bad Tattoo Brewing, Penticton
Jim Martin – senior product consultant, Metro Liquor Group, Kelowna
Samantha Rahn – sommelier, Araxi, Whistler
Audrey Surrao – Co-owner, Raudz Regional Table, Kelowna
Mark Taylor – owner/sommelier, Siena Restaurant, Vancouver
Troy Townsin – author/CBC Radio wine columnist, Victoria
Alistair Veen – sommelier, chef, co-owner, Tap Restaurant
Matt Wentzell – sommelier, Kelowna
Gloria Wheeler – food and beverage manager, Hotel Eldorado, Kelowna
Leave a Reply