IVWA 2010: Best of the Rest

Many excellent wines came this year from countries with too few submissions (shouldn’t you be entering more wines?) to establish an individual country category, but they deserve a mention. These countries are growing producers for value wines in the Canadian market, and their quality offerings encourage diversification among wine drinkers. Every year, the judges see better wines from places such as Greece, Portugal and South Africa; all countries which should be on the radar for those seeking value wines and something different for a change. (Steve Thurlow)

89 Vila Real 2008 Douro White, Alto Douro, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal $13-$15

89 Boutari 2009 Moschofilero, Northern Greece $12-$19

88 Graham Beck N/V Brut Rosé, Western Cape, South Africa $21-$23

88 Fonseca N/V Bin 27 Reserve Port, Douro - Bairrada, Portugal $18-$23

88 Sandeman 2004 Late Bottle Vintage Port, Portugal $16-$18

88 Robertson Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Robertson, Breede River Valley, South Africa $11-$13

88 Domaine Tselepos 2009 Mantinia Moschofilero, Peloponnese, Greece $18-$20

88 Graham’s N/V Six Grapes Reserve Port, Portugal $24-$30

88 Limnos Wines 2009 Muscat de Limnos, The Islands, Greece $10-$12

88 Aliança 2008 Douro Foral, Portugal $9-$12

88 Excelsior 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Robertson, Breede River Valley, South Africa $14-$16

88 Laurenz V 2009 Singing Grüner Veltliner, Austria $21-$23

87 Quinta de Fronteira 2005, Douro Superior, Northern Portugal $21-$23

87 Casal Garcia 2009 Vinho Verde, Portugal $11-$13

87 Devil’s Rock 2009 Riesling, Rheinhessen, Germany $11-$13

87 Boutari 2009 Santorini, The Islands, Greece $14-$20

87 Kir Yianni 2007 Ramnista, Northern Greece  $18-$21

87 Obikwa 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa $9-$11

87 Ktima Pavlidis 2009 Thema White, Northern Greece $19-$21

87 Nakad 2004 Rouge, Bekka Valley, Lebanon $13-$17

87 Aveleda 2007 Charamba, Douro - Bairrada, Portugal $10-$12

87 Drostdy-Hof 2008 Winemakers Collection Chardonnay, Western Cape, South Africa $10-$13

87 KWV 2010 Golden Kaan Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa $10-$15

87 Robertson Winery 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Robertson, Breede River Valley, South Africa $10-$14

More results from the Wine Access 2010 International Value Wine Awards