Top Canadian Rosés

(32 entries, 16 medals)

The results for the pinks this year mirror 2010 almost to the letter — but with one more medal. Last year, the judges commented that winemakers did not seem to be taking rosé very seriously, treating it as an afterthought. This year, the discussion became more philosophical. “Can a basic rose score 90 points?” asked Craig Pinhey. “Rosé should just be drunk and not judged,” added B.C’s Rhys Pender. “That said, styles were all over the map. This is one of the most subjective categories.” Yet quality can also be consistently registered. Mission Hill’s 2010 Five Vineyards Rosé repeated the silver earned by the 2009 vintage, while JoieFarm moved up from bronze.

Rosé CWA Silver Medal Winners

Mission Hill 2010 Five Vineyards Rosé, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $16

JoieFarm 2010 Rosé, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $21

Rosé CWA Bronze Medal Winners

Flat Rock 2010 Pinot Noir Rosé, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $17

Arrowleaf 2010 First Crush Rosé, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $14

CedarCreek 2010 Pinot Noir Rosé, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $18

Meyer Family 2010 Rosé, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $20

Hillebrand 2010 Trius Rosé, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $16

Southbrook 2010 Connect Rosé, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $19

Dirty Laundry 2010 Hush, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $19

Richibucto River 2010 Frontenac Rosé, New Brunswick $14

Averill Creek 2010 Somenos Rosé, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia $17

Quails' Gate 2010 Rosé, Westbank South, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $15

Saturna Island 2009 Rosé, Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia $16

Inniskillin Niagara 2010 Pinot Noir Rosé, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $15

Baillie-Grohman 2010 Blanc de Noirs, British Columbia $18

Burning Kiln 2010 Rosé, Ontario $18