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.
Another successful ACWC was completed this month. Congratulations to all the medal winners, including Time Family of Wines for Best Sparkling Wine of the Year and Solvero Wines for Best White Wine of the Year. Here is the link to all the winners.
BC Wineries won 3 Trophies/ 20 Double Gold/ 34 Gold/ 45 Silver / 52 Bronze, and here are a few of the medal winners I have tasted this year.
Gold Medal
River Stone Good Neighbours Sauvignon Blanc
Enticing aromas of vibrant citrus and tropical fruits, interwoven with delicate floral whispers. On the palate, crisp green apple dances with zesty Meyer lemon and Key lime, unfolding into a tropical medley of pineapple, honeydew melon, and passionfruit. Silky, beautifully textured mouthfeel, culminating in a long, lingering finish.
Hester Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-harvested late in the season at peak ripeness. After being hand-sorted and gently destemmed, the berries were placed into the Ganimede fermentation tanks, where they were whole-berry soaked for three days before inoculation. After 16 days of maceration, the juice was gently pressed off the skins and encouraged through malolactic fermentation. The resulting wine was aged 16 months exclusively in French oak barrels (35% new oak). The wine was then racked and blended before bottling on June 7th, 2024.
13.5% Alcohol / pH 3.8 / TA 6.0 / RS 0.2
The cabernet has vibrant aromas of blueberry and black cherry. The full-bodied wine has flavours of blackberry, cassis, a hint of cedar, and dark chocolate. The ripe, firm tannins lead to a long, mouthwatering finish. It is very drinkable right now and will improve with age.
Vasanti Merlot 2021
The grapes are grown at the estate Paradise block of Monarch Vineyards in Northern Oliver and harvested at 24 brix. The juice from the crushed grapes was fermented in Stainless Steel tanks with three daily pump-overs. The wine was aged for 19 months in 25% new American Oak barrels and 75% Neutral Oak barrels (a combination of French & American)
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.
Noble Ridge Vilicus Series Rosé 2024
The Malbec grape are from the Wahluke vineyard.
ALC: 13.5% | pH: 3.29 | TA: 6.1 | Brix: 22.3 | Residual Sugar: 1.5 g/L
The Malbec Rosé shimmers with delicate pink and orange hues. It entices with aromas of fresh strawberry, ripe cherry, and soft rose petals. On the palate, vibrant flavours of strawberry, pomegranate, and zesty Key lime unfold, accented by subtle savoury undertones. Its lively mouthfeel and lingering finish make it irresistibly captivating.
Silver Medal
Dirty Laundry Pinot Gris 2024
“100% Pinot Gris sourced from vineyards in the Yakima Valley, one of the oldest AVAs in Washington State. To retain crispness and minimize colour, juice is pressed off the skins right away and cold settled in a tank for a few days before fermentation begins. Fermentation temperatures stay relatively low to bring out interesting fruity esters and retain bright acidity. This is a well-rounded representation of the most planted varietal in Yakima and a favourite in the Dirty Laundry Winery line-up.”
Alcohol % 12.0 / pH 3.43/ TA 5.9 / RS 2.1
This easy-drinking, medium-bodied Pinot Gris offers delicate aromas of tropical fruit and honeydew melon. On the palate, vibrant Mandarin orange takes the lead, followed by lush ripe pear and subtle floral notes. Well-balanced with a crisp, refreshing finish.
Northern Lights Mirtillo
Mirtillo is Italian for blueberry.
Made from two varieties of blueberries and aged in Hungarian oak, Mirtillo is an off-dry, medium-bodied wine. Sweet blueberry on the nose with darker fruits on the palate. Acidity and sweetness give this wine a soft, lingering finish. Serve slightly chilled.
Dirty Laundry Hush Rosé 2024
“Hush Rose is a favourite in the Dirty Laundry portfolio and we are incredibly excited to be able to release our first single-varietal with the 2024 vintage. ln this special vintage, our winemaker Mason Spink used 100% Syrah grapes sourced from Washington State, juice was pressed with minimal skin contact, resulting in a delicate salmon-pink colour and bringing thoughts of long days spent lounging on a patio.
Juices were fermented at relatively cool temperatures, preserving aromatics, then racked off into stainless steel for settling. Our wildly popular Rose is the ultimate crowd-pleaser and one that our winemaking team looks forward to each year.”
Alcohol % 13.0 / pH 3.66/ TA 5.25 / RS 8.2
This radiant watermelon-pink rosé captivates with its electric hue and stunning clarity. Lively aromas of red currant, ripe strawberry, and tart rhubarb dance on the nose, while the palate bursts with juicy watermelon, bright cherry, and fresh strawberry. Light to medium-bodied, it offers crisp, well-balanced acidity and a refreshing, vibrant finish. 91 Points
Bronze Medal
Hester Creek Columbia Valley Collection Viognier 2024
“This vintage of Viognier was sustainably farmed in the Goose Gap AVA, hand-harvested, and brought to the crush pad at Hester Creek in temperature-controlled trucks. Once here, our winemaking team hand-sorted the grapes, destemmed them, and sent them as whole berries to our fermentation tanks, where they were cold-settled for two days. We racked off the juice lees and inoculated the wine to be fermented for 20 days. After racking and cross-blending the resulting wine, it was aged five months and bottled on February 5, 2025.”
12.9% Alcohol / pH 3.32 / TA 7.83 / RS 6.7
A captivatingly aromatic Viognier, this wine weaves together scents of ripe apricot and juicy white peach with the delicate fragrance of apple and pear blossoms, kissed by a gentle rain during a stroll through a sun-dappled orchard. On the palate, it unfolds with a luscious, velvety mouthfeel, revealing layers of apricot, peach, and passionfruit, accented by a subtle hint of roasted fennel. A refined mineral backbone lends structure, carrying the flavours to a lingering, elegant finish.
Pair the Viognier with flavourful Indian dishes, such as butter chicken or veggie korma, to enhance your tasting experience.
Vasanti Cabernet Franc 2022
The Cabernet Franc is grown in the East Bench vineyard. The wine was pumped over 3 times a day during fermentation and aged 16 months in new American Oak barrels.
13.7% Alcohol. The Cabernet Franc is lower in alcohol than the previous vintage. It opens with a beautiful aroma of red fruit and a hint of violets. The medium-plus-bodied wine has a beautifully rounded mouthfeel with complex flavour layers of red cherry, leather, and ripe raspberry, accompanied by velvet-smooth tannins and vanilla on the lingering finish.
River Stone Good Neighbours Splash
Equal Parts Chemin Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. 13.4% Alcohol.
This vibrant vintage bursts with lively tropical fruit aromas and playful charm, balancing a touch of sweetness with crisp natural acidity. Dive into a wave of fresh tropical fruit, zesty citrus, and subtle mineral undertones.
Vasanti Syrah 2021
The inaugural release of the single vineyard Syrah from the “Heatdome” vintage. Planted in the most southerly site, this wine was drenched in the sun for the growing season, so the fruit was ripened entirely.
This led to leaving the wine to mature in oak for 33 months, all in new American Oak barrels. The alcohol is off the charts at 15.5% but does not overpower this bold red.
Full-bodied and fruit-forward, it is a close cousin of the Aussie Shiraz I love from Rockford in the Barossa Valley. It has full-on aromas of floral violets, spice, black cherry, and plum. The flavours are raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, black cherry, caramel and licorice, with black and white pepper notes. Smooth tannins and a long finish complete the profile. This wine is ideally suited for cellaring, with exceptional aging potential.