2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s  Wine Awards

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(KELOWNA, BC) – April 18, 2023: On April 3 through 5, 2023, fifteen esteemed professional wine judges from Western Canada gathered in Penticton to participate on a blind tasting panel for the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards competition to choose the best wines in our province.  

The British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards was established in 2018 in partnership with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. The competition is a celebration of excellence in winemaking. The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society presents the BCLGWA in collaboration with sponsors ContainerWorld and TricorBraun. It is open to all licensed British Columbia wineries, including fruit wines and mead.  

During three intense days of competition, over five hundred wines from over one hundred BC  wine producers were blind-tasted and scored by the judges. Each wine was tasted and scored by a set criterion. Wines were presented to the judges in carefully determined flights by an enthusiastic assembly of the Okanagan’s top sommeliers.  

Based on their final scores, wines were ranked in Silver, Gold and Platinum categories. The top class of Platinum wines is then tasted again by the judges, who determine the prestigious Wine of the Year.  

“Judging at the BCLGWA is a special opportunity because it gives us a snapshot of the industry.  What are the unexpected varieties and styles of wine that are emerging as high-quality examples? What are the new trends for our established varieties and styles? And the standard of quality  keeps going up and up!”

Barbara Philip – Master of Wine and 2023 BCLGWA Judge 

Of the five hundred wines submitted, 185 wines medaled in the prescribed categories demonstrating the stringent process of determining the best wines in the province. 

On June 9, 2023, the platinum winners are invited to attend the awards reception to receive recognition in anticipation of the Wine of the Year announcement.  

The 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards winners have much to celebrate.  This year’s acclaimed judges were: 

Barbara Philip MW – Vancouver Brad Royale – Calgary 

DJ Kearney – Vancouver 

Emily Walker – Summerland Iain Philip – Vancouver 

Jenna Briscoe – Vancouver Johanne Audette – Vernon

Kurtis Kolt – Vancouver 

Matthew Landry – Vancouver

Mia Papadopoulos – Kelowna

Rhys Pender MW – Kelowna

Rory Conroy – Vancouver

Sid Cross – Vancouver 

Terry David Mulligan – Victoria

Tim Pawsey – Vancouver 

ABOUT THE OKANAGAN WINE FESTIVALS SOCIETY

The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is responsible for the development of the wine tourism sector in the interior of British Columbia. It is well known for producing three seasonally inspired  Okanagan Wine Festivals in Winter, Spring, and Fall. It is also responsible for Signature Wine  Events including the Valley First Grand Tastings, and it produces and runs the province’s most prestigious and oldest wine competition, the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine  Awards. For more information visit, www.thewinefestivals.com.

Media Contact
Kimberly Hundertmark
General Manager
Okanagan Wine Festivals
kimberly@thewinefestivals.com
250.864.4139

2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governors’ Wine Awards Results

PLATINUM

Backyard Vineyards Syrah Reserve 2020
Fort Berens Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020
Fox & Archer Wines Malbec 2020
Hillside Winery & Bistro Viognier 2021
Inniskillin Okanagan Winery Estate Riesling Icewine 2018
Kismet Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Lake Breeze Vineyards Syrah 2020
Moraine Estate Winery Malbec 2021
O’Rourke Family Estate Clone 943 Pinot Noir 2020
Quails’ Gate Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Stag’s Hollow Winery Renaissance Pinot Noir 2020
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Seven Stars Sirius 2015
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Reserve 7 2019

GOLD

50th Parallel Estate Chardonnay 2020
Bench 1775 Winery Bench 1775 Glow 2021
Bench 1775 Winery Bench 1775 Blanc de Blanc 2020
Bench 1775 Winery Bench 1775 2021
Black Swift Vineyards Monarch Vineyard 2019
Blasted Church Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Blue Grouse Estate Winery 2020 Pinot Noir 2020
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Chaberton Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2022
Chaberton Estate Winery Meritage 2019
Clos du Soleil Winery Clos du Soleil Fume Blanc 2022 2022
Da Silva Vineyards and Winery Pinot Noir – Legado Series 2020
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards Ltd. Cabernet Franc 2019
Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery Four Shadows Riesling Classic 2022
Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery Four Shadows Riesling Dry 2021
Gray Monk Estate Winery Odyssey Traditional Brut 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery Odyssey Meritage 2019
Hester Creek Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Hillside Winery & Bistro Gewurztraminer 2022
Intersection Estate Winery Riesling 2020
Intrigue Wines Ltd Social White 2022
Kismet Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2019
Kismet Estate Winery Mantra 2020
Lake Breeze Vineyards Lake Breeze Pinot Gris 2022
Lake Breeze Vineyards Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc 2022
Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio 2020
Laughing Stock Vineyards Blind Trust 2020
Laughing Stock Vineyards Syrah 2020
Laughing Stock Vineyards Viognier 2021
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard Gamay 2021
Maan Farms Estate Winery Raspberry Dessert 2020
Moon Curser Vineyards Syrah 2020
Moraine Estate Winery SYRAH 2020
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery Qwam Qwmt Syrah 2019
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery Mer’r’yim Red Meritage 2019
Peak Cellars Block 11 Riesling 2021
Phantom Creek Estates Phantom Creek Estates Pinot Gris 2020
Privato Vineyard & Winery Woodward Collection – Grande Reserve Pinot Noir 2016
Ruby Blues Rose 2022
Sandhill Cabernet Franc Terroir Driven Wine 2020
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery Lover’s Lane Cabernet Franc 2019
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery Royal Engineers Petir Verdot 2019
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery The Connaught Syrah 2020
See Ya Later Ranch Ping Meritage 2020
See Ya Later Ranch Gewurztraminer 2022
Seven Stones Winery Speaking Rock 2021
SpearHead Winery Cuvee Pinot Noir 2021
SpearHead Winery Clone 828 Pinot Noir 2021
Sperling Vineyards Old Vines Riesling 2021
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Private Reserve Gewurztraminer 2021
Tantalus Vineyards Riesling 2021
Tantalus Vineyards Chardonnay 2020
Tantalus Vineyards Pinot Noir 2020
Tantalus Vineyards Old Vines Riesling 2020
Terravista Vineyards FIGARO 2021
the hatch Merlot Rider 2017
Time Family of Wines Chronos Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Seven Stars Polaris 2019
Valley Commons Harvest Table White 2021
Wesbert Winery Viognier 2021
Wild Goose Winery Red Horizon 2020

SILVER

40 Knots Winery 40 Knots Spindrift 2020
50th Parallel Estate Pinot Noir Estate 2020
Arrowleaf Rosé 2022
Arrowleaf Bacchus 2022
Arrowleaf Zweigelt 2021
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Récolte Blanche 2022
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Gewürztraminer 2022
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Pinot Noir Terraces 2021
Bench 1775 Winery Gewurztraminer 2020
Bonamici Cellars Belviaggio 2020
Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Win- Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Cannon Estate Winery Rêverie 2021
Cannon Estate Winery Allégresse 2021
Chaberton Estate Winery Estate Grown Siegerrebe 2022
Chaberton Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2019
Chain Reaction Winery Tailwind Pinot Gris 2022
Chain Reaction Winery True Colours Rose 2022
Clos du Soleil Winery Syrah 2020
Clos du Soleil Winery Signature 2020 2020
Country Vines Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2018
Culmina Family Estate Winery Malbec 2019
Culmina Family Estate Winery Dilemma 2019
Deep Roots Winery Parentage Red 2020
Deep Roots Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Dirty Laundry Vineyard Riesling 2022
ENRICO WINERY TEMPEST 2022
ENRICO WINERY CORONET 2021
Ex Nihilo Vineyards Okanagan Valley  Pinot Noir2021
Ex Nihilo Vineyards Okanagan Valley Night 2020
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Fitz Brut 2018
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards The Sudden Inversion Meritage 2020
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards The Lavabomb Gamay 2021
Fort Berens Estate Winery Riesling Reserve 2021
Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery Merlot 2020
French Door Estate Winery Fleur 2022
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery Old Vines Auxerrois 2022
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery Dry Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Gray Monk Estate Winery Odyssey Chardonnay 2021
Haywire Winery Free Form Riesling 2021
Hester Creek Estate Winery Syrah 2020
Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2022
Indigenous World Winery Single Vineyard Merlot 2018
Inniskillin Okanagan Winery Vidal Icewine 2018
Intersection Estate Winery Alluvia Unfiltered Merlot 2019
Intersection Estate Winery Silica Unfiltered Merlot 2019
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Grand Reserve White Meritage 2021
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Reserve Riesling Icewine 2018
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Sunrock Vineyards Red Meritage 2020
JoieFarm Winery A Noble Blend 2022
JoieFarm Winery Unoaked Chardonnay 2022
Kismet Estate Winery Moksha 2019
Kismet Estate Winery Syrah 2020
Lake Breeze Vineyards Pinot Noir 2021
Lakeside Cellars Cabernet Franc 2019
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard Blanc de Noirs 2021
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2020
Maan Farms Estate Winery Strawberry Rhubarb 2021
Maan Farms Estate Winery Blackberry Dessert 2020
Moraine Estate Winery PINOT NOIR 2021
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery Summit 2019
Niche Wine Co Farm Fresh White 2021
Nighthawk Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2019
Nighthawk Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosé 2022
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery Mer’r’yim White Meritage 2021
O’Rourke Family Estate Chardonnay 2020
O’Rourke Family Estate Pinot Noir 2020
O’Rourke Family Estate Twisted Pine Chardonnay 2020
Peak Cellars Riesling 2021
Peak Cellars Glacial Till Pinot Gris 2021
Peak Cellars Gruner Veltliner 2020
Phantom Creek Estates Phantom Creek Estates Vineyard Syrah 2020
Priest Creek Family Estate Winery Meliora 2018
Red Rooster Winery Malbec 2020
River Stone Estate Winery Reflections 2019
Robin Ridge Winery Gamay 2021
Roche Wines Tradition Pinot Gris 2020
Roche Wines Tradition Pinot Noir 2018
Rust Wine Co. “South Rock” Syrah 2020
Rust Wine Co. “Lazy River Vineyard” Syrah 2020
Rust Wine Co. Riesling 2022
Sandhill Pinot Gris Terroir Driven Wine 2022
Sandhill Syrah Terroir Driven Wine 2020
Sandhill Single Vineyard TWO ‘Sandhill Estate Vineyard’ 2019
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery Interurban Estate Cabernet Foch 2020
SpearHead Winery Saddle Block Pinot Noir 2021
SpearHead Winery Saddle Block Chardonnay 2021
Stag’s Hollow Winery Renaissance Syrah 2020
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2020
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Mountain Jay Brut 2017
Terralux Estate Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Terravista Vineyards FANDANGO 2021
The View Winery Elements Pinot Gris 2022
The View Winery Pink Rhino 2022
Three Sisters Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Tightrope Winery Sauvignon Blanc – Sémillon 2022
Time Family of Wines McWatters Collection Brut 2017
Time Family of Wines McWatters Meritage 2020
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Reserve Syrah 2020
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery seven stars Equinox 2018
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery NBO 2019
Upper Bench Estate Winery & Creamery  Riesling2022
Van Westen Vineyards 2019
Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery Inc. Meritage 2017
Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery Inc. V Series 2022
Wild Goose Winery Pinot Gris 2022
Wild Goose Winery Gewürztraminer 2022