CWA 2010: Riesling

(70 entries, 46 medals)

The entries were exactly the same as last year’s count, but medal ratio is up and, as in 2009, Ontario owns this category, taking all three golds and 11 of 12 silvers. Ontario-based winemaker Ann Sperling took the lone B.C. silver with the debut vintage from her family’s Kelowna property. Although several judges mentioned excess sulphur in these young rieslings (most are 2009s and 2008s), they generally agreed with Véronique Rivest that most “had good riesling character, but the best are mind-blowing and a clear indication that Canada can make stunning rieslings.” Indeed, noted Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson. “There is great intensity in a lot of these wines."

Gold

Tawse 2008 Wismer Lakeview Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $25

Flat Rock Cellars 2009 Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $20

Tawse 2009 Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $20

Silver

Creekside Estate 2008 Butler’s Grant Vineyard Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario    $16

Vineland Estates 2008 St. Urban Riesling, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $20

Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2009 Triangle Vineyard Small Lot Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $30

Vineland Estates 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $14

Sperling Vineyards 2009 Old Vines Riesling, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $29

Inniskillin 2009 Winemaker’s Series Two Vineyards Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $18

Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2009 Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $19

Tawse 2009 Misek Vineyard Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $25

Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2009 Steel Post Vineyard Small Lot Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $30

Hidden Bench 2009 Estate Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $24

Huff Estates 2008 Reserve Riesling, Prince Edward County, Ontario     $20

Angels Gate 2008 Sussreserve Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $14

Bronze

Gehringer Brothers 2009 Private Reserve Riesling, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $15

Dirty Laundry 2009 Riesling, Summerland, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

Mission Hill 2009 Reserve Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

Tawse 2009 Quarry Road, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $22

Vineland Estates 2008 Dry Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $14

Flat Rock Cellars 2009 Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $17

Wild Goose Vineyards 2009 Stoney Slope Riesling, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Huff Estates 2008 Riesling Off-Dry, Ontario     $18

Intrigue Wines 2009 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $17

Tawse 2009 Sketches of Niagara Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $18

Twenty Twenty-Seven Cellars 2009 Fox Croft Vineyard Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $25

Jackson-Triggs Niagara 2008 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Riesling, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario    $20

Henry of Pelham 2007 Speck Family Reserve Riesling, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $30

Calamus 2008 Vinemount Ridge Riesling, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $17

Blasted Church 2009 Riesling, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

CedarCreek 2009 Riesling, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $18

See YA Later Ranch 2009 Riesling, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $15

Wild Goose Vineyards 2009 God’s Mountain Riesling, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Angels Gate 2007 St. John Vineyard Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $22

Rosewood 2008 Renaceau Vineyard Reserve Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $25

Magnotta 2008 Special Reserve Dry Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $13

Tantalus 2009 Riesling, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $23

Riverview Cellars 2009 Riesling, Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $17

Red Rooster Winery 2009 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $16

Camelot Vineyards 2009 Camelot Estate Riesling     $25

Mt. Boucherie 2009 Estate Collection Riesling, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $15

Nk’Mip Cellars 2009 Riesling, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $18

Gray Monk 2009 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $17

Quails’ Gate Winery 2009 Dry Riesling, Westbank South, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $17

Hillebrand 2009 Ghost Creek Vineyard Showcase Riesling, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $25

Orofino Vineyards 2009 Riesling, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $20

See more results from the Wine Access 2010 Canadian Wine Awards