The All Canadian Wine Championships (ACWC)is an important national competition that highlights and promotes Canadian wines within the country. It is a key event for Canadian wineries seeking domestic recognition and prestige.
In comparison, international wine competitions provide a platform for global recognition and can influence a winery’s international reputation and market presence. Each type of competition offers unique benefits and opportunities depending on a winery’s goals and target markets.
Another successful ACWC was completed this month. Congratulations to all the medal winners, including Bench 1775 for Best Sparkling Wine of the Year, Sunrock Vineyards for Best Red Wine and Van Westen Vineyards for Best White Wine. Here is the link to all the winners.
BC wineries won 5 Trophies/ 27 Double Gold/ 53 Gold/44 Silver /47 Bronze.
I have tried sixteen BC medal winners. Here are the tasting notes and background information for the Double Gold Winners.
Double Gold
Hester Creek GSM 2022
For details on this wine, see – Hester Creek Releases GSM June 5th
45% Grenache / 38% Syrah (includes 2% Viognier co-fermented) / 17% Mourvèdre
Alcohol 12.8% / pH 3.7 / TA 6.1 g/L / RS 0.4 g/L
The GSM is a deep, ruby-red colour. It has a graceful aroma of plum, cherries, and chocolate. Elegantly and perfectly balanced, the medium-bodied wine reveals layers of ripe raspberry, plum, and cherry flavours with fine tannins, floral notes, and a hint of pepper. The finish is very long and harmonious. It’s a very sophisticated wine that can be cellared for 7+ years. 92+ points.
Dirty Laundry Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ($21.99)
100% Summerland Sauvignon Blanc picked in late October. Fruit was from two vineyards, so we fermented them separately with different yeasts to give blending options. The fruit was destemmed, crushed and soaked on skins for 2 hours under C02 in the press before gently pressing off skins into stainless tanks.
Lees stirring in the stainless tanks was performed daily during fermentation to build complexity and body. Fermentation temperatures were kept low to preserve the delicate aromatics.
Alcohol 12%, pH 3.37, TA 5.3, RS 1.9
A very pale lemon colour. Vibrant aromas of tropical fruit and citrus. The mouthfeel is fresh and fruity for the medium-bodied wine. Perfectly balanced acidity with flavours of pineapple, lemon, lime, mandarin orange, passion fruit and a touch of grapefruit.
Hester Creek Rosé Noir 2023($27.99)
Best Rosé Wine of the Year
The Rosé Noir is made entirely from Pinot Noir Clone 777 grapes, the first hand-harvested in the 2023 season. After hand sorting the grapes, they went straight to press, where they rested for three hours to extract the defining yet subtle hue typical of a Provence-style wine.
The grapes were whole berries, and the whole cluster was pressed to retain all the fresh characteristics of the fruit before being fermented to dryness. The wine was aged on fine lees for three months to draw out decadent strawberry and cream notes before being bottled on February 8, 2024.
11.7% Alcohol / pH 3.3 / TA 6.9 g/L / RS 1.7 g/L.
A Provence-style Rosé “tour de force”! Delicate pale salmon hue. The wine opens with intense aromas of pink grapefruit and rose petals. Crisp flavours of wild strawberry, pink grapefruit and mandarin orange. A creamy, smooth and long flavourful finish. A perfectly balanced lush Rosé that leaves you clamouring for more.
Hester Creek Viognier 2023($23.99)
The 2023 Viognier was hand-harvested from two South Okanagan vineyards to bring out the best of the South Okanagan terroir before being whole cluster pressed to extract a clean and deliciously aromatic juice.
A 27-day cold fermentation at 120C in stainless steel was conducted to enhance the bright aromatics and highlight the full and refreshing mouthfeel. After fermentation, the Viognier was aged five months in stainless steel tanks before being bottled in early February 2024.
12.2% Alcohol/ pH 3.5 / TA 8.1 / RS 6.5
When inhaling this premium Viognier, a beautiful aromatic aroma of pear, ginger, orange, and honey greets you. The wine has a light buttery mouthfeel with white peach, apricot, ginger, and honeycomb flavours, with a subtle mineral backbone to keep it fresh and crisp.
Gold
Solvero Pinot Noir 2020
The Pinot Noir grapes are from the Garnett Valley estate vineyard. The Pinot Noir clones include 115, 667, 777, 828, 943. Swan and Pommard and was cropped at only 1 ton per acre.
The wine was aged for 12 months in 33% new oak barrels.
The wine opens with a gorgeous aroma of ripe cherries and violets. Medium-bodied with classic Pinot flavours of cherry pie and earthy forest floor. A long lingering finish to this food-friendly wine.
River Stone Splash 2023 ($22.90)
The Splash blend is 37% Pinot Gris, 37% Gewürztraminer and 26% Viognier. Alcohol 13.1% / pH 3.25 / TA 5.78/ RS 6.09
The blend has a lovely tropical fruit aroma. Flavours of passionfruit, guava, honeydew melon and grapefruit. It has a lovely textured mouthfeel with acidity and sugar in perfect balance. Make sure not to overchill so the tropical notes shine through. 90 Points
River Stone Pinot Gris ($23.90)
Alcohol 13.5% / pH 3.28 / TA 5.8/ RS 7
The Pinot Gris has a gorgeous apricot hue. It has classic stone fruit aromas with floral notes. It is an off-dry medium-bodied wine with a delicious mouthfeel and honeydew melon, pear, and apricot flavours. This wine is balanced in acidity with a hint of minerality. 92 Points
River Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ($23.90)
Alcohol 12.5% / pH 3.11 / TA 6.23/ RS 7
Another terrific Sauvignon Blanc from River Stone. Aromas of citrus and tropical fruits with floral notes. The flavours are Meyer lemon, Key lime, pineapple, honeydew melon, and passionfruit, with green apple on the finish. A beautifully textured mouthfeel and a long lingering finish.
Silver Medal
Dirty Laundry Pinot Gris 2023 ($21.99)
Alcohol 12% / pH 3.27 / TA 6.95 / RS 4.95
Aromas of green apple, tropical fruit and citrus. Flavours of pineapple, golden apple, Anjou pear, nectarine and honeydew melon. A crisp, off-dry Pinot Gris with a light creamy texture.
Dirty Laundry Unoaked Chardonnay 2023
The grapes for the chardonnay were sourced from four different vineyards in Summerland and fermented in stainless steel.
12.5% Alcohol. It has a lovely nose of tropical fruit and citrus. The flavours are pineapple, stone fruit, and melon, with a refreshing oily finish. The dry chardonnay has a lean mouthfeel.
Clos du Soleil Signature 2020 ($55.99)
Merlot 34%, Cab Sauvignon 33%, Cabernet Franc 21%, Malbec 9%, Petit Verdot 3%
Alcohol 14.1% / pH 3.70 / TA 6.49 / RS 0.18
The signature blend is bold and brawny but food-friendly with a steak now. The full-body wine opens with vibrant aromas of cherry, raspberry, leather with violets and rose petal fragrances. Flavours of blackberry, ripe raspberry, dark chocolate, and espresso with notes of tobacco and baking spices. The integrated ripe tannins add to the depth and complexity of the flavour and lead to a lovely long finish. 93+ Points
Bronze
Vasanti Merlot 2021 ($34.49)
13.6% Alcohol. The colour is dark and inky. Vibrant aromas of black fruit with floral notes of violet and sage. Flavours of black cherry, dark plum, leather, cigar and black pepper. A medium to full-bodied Merlot with grippy tannins that add depth and complexity. The wine will age well and impress more with time.
Solvero Rosé
The dry Rosé is a subdued orange peach colour with light aromas of red berries and rose petals. Its juicy flavours of strawberry, raspberry, and pomegranate and rich texture make it ideal for food.
Noble Ridge The Pink One 2019 ($34.99)
12.1% Alcohol / pH 3,24 / TA 7.1 g/L / RS 6.4 g/L.
It’s a gorgeous, vivid salmon hue. Aromas of fresh strawberry and rose petals with a hint of hazelnut. Flavours of cherry, raspberry and baked pear with a hint of earthy bread and a long, soft finish.
Hester Creek Old Vines Cabernet Franc 2021 ($29.99)
13.9% alcohol / pH 3.8 /TA 5.8 / RS 0.7
This Cabernet Franc was released with more time in the bottle than previous vintages. It is a medium garnet colour. Aromas of blackberry, raspberry, and sagebrush. The medium-plus-bodied wine has flavours of fresh raspberry, black cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, and a savoury earthiness. Balanced acidity with smooth integrated tannins. This wine drinks well now but will also cellar gracefully.
Hester Creek The Judge 2020 ($57.49)
14% Alcohol / pH 3.8 / TA 6.2 / RS 0.3
Blackberry and ripe plums are present on the nose, along with dark chocolate, vanilla, leather, and dried herbs. Smooth tannins and lively acidity magnify the rich flavours of ripe black cherry, pomegranate, cocoa, and a hint of vanilla and cigar.