Top Canadian Red Single Varietals

(43 entries, 24 medals)

This category includes varietals on the fringes of Canadian viticulture, including new grape tryouts, as well as hybrids still relatively important in Eastern Canada. They were judged in varietal groups, but are combined here for reporting purposes. British Columbia dominated the medals with heat-seeking grapes such as malbec, petit verdot, pinotage, sangiovese and zinfandel. Malbec is showing potential to create ripe, rich reds without the greenness often found in cabernet, but Heather Rankin “expected more richness and concentration.” Hybrids fared well, especially from Nova Scotia. “Some well-made wines here,” said Craig Pinhey. “Growers are learning how to ripen the fruit.” Rémy Charest noted, “A most pleasant maréchal foch flight, several balanced, relatively mult-dimensional wines.”

Red Single Varietal CWA Silver Medal Winners

Sandhill 2009 Small Lots Malbec Phantom Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $35

OVINO 2011 Momento, British Columbia $15

Inniskillin Okanagan 2009 Discovery Series Pinotage, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $30

Robin Ridge 2010 Gamay, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia $23

Inniskillin Okanagan 2009 Discovery Series Malbec, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $25

Sandhill 2009 Small Lots Petit Verdot Phantom Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $30

Starling Lane 2009 Maréchal Foch, Vancouver Island, British Columbia $24

A full list of bronze medals winners can be found here.

Results compiled by David Lawrason. Bottle photos by Jason Dziver.