The Decanter World Wine Awards ranks as perhaps the planet’s most fascinating wine competition for a variety of reasons, including its unparalleled scale and scope.
This spring’s 19th annual tasting in London broke last year’s record with 18,244 entries from 54 countries. It recruited nearly 250 judges, a group that featured 41 Masters of Wine and 13 Master Sommeliers.
Results were released June 7, and in the eyes of the panel, British Columbia winemakers best represented the Pacific Northwest, entering five wines that received a gold medal or better. Leading the contingent with a Platinum medal was the Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2018 Reserve Riesling Icewine. Bruce Nicholson, the early architect of that remarkable program, retired this past winter in Ontario after spending 34 years making wine for J-T in the Okanagan Valley and later at Inniskillin Niagara.
The other British Columbia producers receiving a gold medal this year at Decanter were CedarCreek Estate Winery in Kelowna for its 2019 Platinum Haynes Creek Cabernet Franc, Culmina Family Estate Winery in Oliver for its 2020 Unicus Grüner Veltliner, Fox & Archer Winery in Penticton for the 2019 Malbec from its planting on the Naramata Bench and Mission Hill Family Estate in West Kelowna for the 2019 Reserve Syrah.
No wines from either Washington state or Oregon rose to the rank of a gold medal. Last year, eight Oregon wines received a gold medal or better, and two wines from Washington received a gold medal.
Judges worked April 24 – May 7 and combined to award 50 wines Best in Show, followed by 163 Platinum, 678 Gold, 5,900 Silver and 8,074 Bronze medals. The rate of wines that won a gold medal or better was 4.9%, while those not receiving medal accounted for 18% of the field.
Spurrier key to Decanter judging’s rapid rise
Decanter, a London-based magazine, bills itself as “the world’s leading wine media brand.” Its competition immediately merited international credibility in 2004 via its founding chair — the late Steven Spurrier of The Judgment of Paris fame. His reputation and longtime relationship with the publication helped the Decanter World Wine Awards soon become the largest judging of its kind. Spurrier died March 13, 2021 of cancer.
This year, there were 50 entries that received “best in show” — a level of recognition more commonly referred to as “best of class” in the United States. France, Italy and Australia combined for half of those category wins led by France (10), Italy (9) and Australia (6), followed by Spain (5), Argentina (4) and New Zealand (4). Each of those 50 wines were awarded 97 points.
Two North American wines received best-of-show awards. They were the Clos du Val 2019 Hirondelle Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa’s Stags Leap District and the Flat Rock Cellars 2019 Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling from Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula. Last year, Decanter judges scored the Clos du Val 2018 Estate Cab at 97 points and designated it a Platinum.
That Platinum-winning entry by Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate traveled to London with West Coast accolades, having earned gold medals at the 2021 British Columbia Lt. Governors Awards and the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
This year, Domaine Serene, a storied producer in Oregon’s Dundee Hills, was awarded seven silver medals. L’Ecole N° 41 in Walla Walla, which captured the hearts of Decanter judges in 2014 with its 2011 Ferguson Vineyard Estate Red Wine, received a silver for its 2018 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee Red Wine.
Last year, young Audeant Wines in the Willamette Valley near Salem received a Platinum and a Gold for work with Pinot Noir. Domaine Serene was awarded five gold medals, and neighboring Alexana received a gold medal. Walla Walla winemaker Dave Harvey earned two gold medals for his work as part of the NakedWines.com portfolio.
According to Decanter’s website, entries are flighted by country, region, color, grape, style, vintage and price point. Its judges are informed of the region, style and price bracket. After evaluating a flight, judges “compare notes on the wine and reach a consensus on each wine’s medal.”
Decanter judging grows by 20% in 8 years
While many wine competitions in the United States have reported fewer entries in recent years, support for Decanter continues to rise. In 2014, the year of L’Ecole’s historic victory in the Bordeaux-style blend category, there were 15,007 entries judged by a panel of 224 experts, headlined by 66 MWs and 18 Master Somms. This year’s judging represents a growth in entries of 20% in less than a decade. The 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition — the largest judging of North American wine — reported 5,816 entries. That’s off nearly 19% from its record-setting field of 7,162 set in 2016.
At Decanter, there are four co-chairs who help oversee the entire competition. During the second week of the judging, that foursome determines the “best of show” by evaluating all of the Platinum winners within a category and selecting the best of class. That “super panel” also is informed of the region, the vintage and the price range. Co-chairs were Sarah Jane Evans, a MW living in London with a focus on Spain; Michael Hills Smith, a MW from Australia; Andrew Jefford, a longtime Decanter columnist now living in France; and Ronan Syburn, a MS from England who spent eight years with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s organization.
James Tidwell, a MS based in Texas who graduated from Louisiana State and later co-founded the TEXSOM Conference, served as the regional chair for the U.S. and Central America. Barbara Philip, the first Canadian woman to become a Master of Wine and the wine buyer of European wines for British Columbia’s provincial liquor stores, served as the regional chair for Canada. Michaela Morris, who lives in British Columbia, was the acting regional chair for Tuscany. Other judges include British Columbia journalist Treve Ring; Larry Stone, a famed MS/restaurateur who founded Lingua Franca in the Willamette Valley; West Seattle’s Christopher Tanghe, a MS whose career in the Seattle restaurant industry included Canlis, Crush and RN74; Julie Albin, head of wine education for Bright Cellars in Los Angeles; Elsa Macdonald, a MW who is the head of wine education at Arterra Wines Canada; Jean-Michel Valette, a California-based MW and director of Vinfolio; and Eugene Mlynczyk, a MW who is a sales executive for Arterra, the company created when the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan purchased the Canadian wineries owned by global giant Constellation Brands. Arterra’s holdings include Jackson-Triggs.
2022 Decanter World Wine Awards
Top Pacific Northwest results
Platinum medal
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2018 Reserve Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley
Gold medal
Culmina Family Estate Winery 2020 Unicus Grüner Veltliner, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2019 Haynes Creek Platinum Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2019 Reserve Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Fox & Archer Winery 2019 Malbec, Naramata Bench
Silver medal (Oregon, Washington)
Cristom Wines 2019 Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
Domaine Serene 2019 Clos De Lune Chardonnay, Dundee Hills
Domaine Serene 2018 Gold Eagle Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Domaine Serene 2018 Fleur De Lis Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Domaine Serene 2018 Mark Bradford Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Domaine Serene 2018 Abbey Oaks Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton
Domaine Serene 2018 Members’ Limited 1st Edition Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Domaine Serene 2019 Triple Crown Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills
L’ Ecole No 41 2018 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee, Walla Walla Valley
Scott Kelley Wines 2020 Chardonnay, Oregon
Silver medal (British Columbia)
50th Parallel Estate 2019 Unparalleled Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Black Hills Estate Winery 2019 Carménère, Okanagan Valley
Black Hills Estate Winery 2019 Per Se, Okanagan Valley
Black Hills Estate Winery 2020 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek 2020 Aspect Collection Block 3 Riesling, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2019 Aspect Block 2 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2019 Aspect Block 4 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2019 Platinum Haynes Creek Syrah, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2020 Platinum Home Block Rosé, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2020 Platinum Jagged Rock Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Clos du Soleil 2019 Signature Red Wine, Similkameen Valley
Culmina Family Estate Winery 2017 Malbec, Golden Mile Bench
Dark Horse Vineyard 2018 Cabernet Franc, Golden Mile Bench
Dark Horse Vineyard 2020 Chardonnay, Golden Mile Bench
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2019 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Lillooet
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2020 White Gold Reserve, Lillooet
Frind Estate Winery 2020 Premier Merlot, British Columbia
Frind Estate Winery 2020 Premier Syrah, British Columbia
Inniskillin Okanagan 2018 Icewine Riesling, Okanagan Valley (94)
Inniskillin Okanagan 2020 Reserve Fumé Blanc, Okanagan Valley
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2019 Grand Reserve Meritage, Okanagan Valley
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2019 Grand Reserve Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2020 Grand Reserve White Meritage, Okanagan Valley
Kitsch 2020 5 Barrel Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Lakeside Cellars 2017 Provenir Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Laughing Stock Vineyards 2019 Portfolio Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Liquidity Wines 2019 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Liquidity Wines 2019 Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Liquidity Wines 2019 Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Liquidity Wines 2020 Estate Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Liquidity Wines 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé, Okanagan Valley
Little Engine 2019 Gold Chardonnay, British Columbia
Little Engine 2019 Gold Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Macintyre Heritage Reserve 2017 Ardua Red Wine, Naramata Bench
Macintyre Heritage Reserve 2018 Astra White Wine, Naramata Bench
Meyer Family Vineyards 2020 McLean Creek Road Vineyard Chardonnay, Okanagan Falls
Meyer Family Vineyards 2020 McLean Creek Vineyard Old Block Pinot Noir, Okanagan Falls
Meyer Family Vineyards 2020 Old Main Road Vineyard Tribute Series Terry Threlfall Chardonnay, Naramata Bench
Mission Hill Family Estate 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2019 Reserve Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2020 Perpetua White Wine, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2020 Reserve Red Meritage, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2020 Terroir Collection Jagged Rock Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2020 Terroir Collection Naramata Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2020 Terroir Collection Vista’s Edge Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Monte Creek Winery 2020 Ancient Waters Series Pinot Noir, Thompson Valley
Monte Creek Winery 2020 Living Land Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Nk’mip Cellars 2018 Qwam Qwmt Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip Cellars 2019 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip Cellars 2019 Qwam Qwmt Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip Cellars 2020 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip Cellars 2020 Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip Cellars 2020 Qwam Qwmt Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2018 The Pink One Brut Rosé, Okanagan Falls
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2019 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2019 Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2019 Red Icon, Okanagan Valley
Peak Cellars 2020 Block 11 Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Peak Cellars 2020 Glacial Till Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley
Poplar Grove Winery 2019 CSM Red, Okanagan Valley
Poplar Grove Winery 2019 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Quails’ Gate Estate Winery 2019 Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Red Rooster Winery 2019 Malbec, Naramata Bench
Road 13 Vineyards 2019 Jackpot 5th Element Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Road 13 Vineyards 2012 Jackpot Chenin Blanc, Golden Mile Bench
Road 13 Vineyards 2019 G-S-M, Okanagan Valley
Road 13 Vineyards 2019 Jackpot Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Road 13 Vineyards 2019 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Sandhill 2019 Single Vineyard Hidden Terrace Vineyard Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Sandhill 2019 Single Vineyard One Vanessa Vineyard, Similkameen Valley
Sandhill 2019 Single Vineyard Osprey Ridge Vineyard Malbec, Okanagan Valley
See Ya Later Ranch 2019 Legacy Syrah, Okanagan Valley
See Ya Later Ranch 2019 Ping Red Meritage, Okanagan Valley
Spearhead Winery 2019 Coyote Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Spearhead Winery 2019 Cuvée Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Spearhead Winery 2019 Saddle Block Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Stag’s Hollow Winery 2019 Stag’s Hollow Vineyard Renaissance Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Stag’s Hollow Winery 2020 Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard Albariño, Okanagan Valley
Sunrock Vineyards 2019 Shiraz, Okanagan Valley
Tightrope Winery 2019 Fleet Road Pinor Noir, Naramata Bench
Tightrope Winery 2019 Merlot, Naramata Bench
Tightrope Winery 2020 Chardonnay, Naramata Bench
Tightrope Winery 2020 Pinot Gris, Naramata Bench
Tightrope Winery 2020 Riesling, Naramata Bench
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2019 Oldfield Reserve Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Unsworth Vineyards 2019 Pinot Noir, Vancouver Island
Vanessa Vineyard 2016 Right Bank Red, Similkameen Valley
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