CWA 2010: Fruit Wines and Meads

(45 entries, 28 medals)

This category shrunk a bit this year, largely due to the virtual absence of entries from Ontario, which contributed many of the gold and silver medalists in previous years. B.C. wineries, plus Rodrigues of Newfoundland and Domaine Pinnacle’s iced apple wines from Quebec, carried the day, eliciting a good medal ratio and positive comments. Meads (honey wines) saw a significant-enough jump in entries to warrant a separate flight. The key to fruit wine quality is purity of expression and most judges felt it was very good. “Overall better than in earlier editions,” said John Szabo. “The meads offer some very compelling flavours. Fun stuff!”

Silver

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2009 Pomme Desiree Iced Apple, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $30

Rodrigues Winery N/V Raspberry, Markland, Newfoundland     $25

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2009 Plumiscuous Plum Mistelle, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $27

Rodrigues N/V Cranberry, Markland, Newfoundland     $13

Rustic Roots 2009 Santa Rosa, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $28

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2008 Impearfection Asian Pear, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $22

Bronze

Living Sky Winery 2010 Juliett Cherry Wine, Perdue, Saskatchewan     $23

Cypress Hills 2009 Saskatoon Berry, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan     $17

Cypress Hills 2009 Black Currant & Honey, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan     $19

Rodrigues N/V Blueberry, Markland, Newfoundland     $13

Domaine Pinnacle Reflet d’Hiver, Quebec     $23

Rodrigues N/V Barrens Blend, Markland, Newfoundland     $13

Domaine Pinnacle 2007 Cidre de Glace, Quebec    $25

Rustic Roots 2008 Mulberry Pear, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $25

Field Stone Fruit Wines N/V Black Currant Dessert Wine, Strathmore, Alberta     $23

Rodrigues N/V Black Currant, Markland, Newfoundland     $13

Forbidden Fruit Winery 2009 Cherysh Cherry Rosé, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $20

Rodrigues N/V Cloudberry, Markland, Newfoundland     $25

Sanduz Estate N/V Raspberry Fruit Wine, Fraser Valley, British Columbia     $15

Field Stone Fruit Wines N/V Wild Black Cherry Dessert Wine, Strathmore, Alberta     $19

Meads

Bronze

Cypress Hills Vineyard & Winery 2009 Spring, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan     $17

Rosewood 2009 Mead Blanc, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $25

Rosewood 2008 Mead Royale, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $18

Cypress Hills Vineyard & Winery 2009 Mead, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan     $17

Meadow Vista Honey Wines 2008 Mabon, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $24

Meadow Vista Honey Wines 2008 Libra, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Rosewood 2007 Mon Cherie, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $18

Meadow Vista Honey Wines 2008 Joy, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $3

See more results from the Wine Access 2010 Canadian Wine Awards