The Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards (CWA) is judged by some of Canada’s most respected wine experts.

The judging panel is comprised of some of Canada’s leading wine writers, journalists, sommeliers, buyers and industry professionals. The competition also seeks out new and emerging talent in the industry to be part of the panel. This blend of experience and enthusiasm, brought by judges from many regions across Canada, ensures a comprehensive view of the wine world’s most current state.

The Wine Access 2010 CWA judges will be announced by July 10, 2010.

Our Process:

• All competition wines are blind-tasted and judged in categories according to varietal or style, not by region, using the same 100-point system as used by Wine Access magazine.

• The competition prohibits the involvement of judges who are in any way associated with a winery or agency.We ask that our judging panel focus on translating wine character and quality to consumers.

• The judging is overseen by Wine Access editor-in-chief Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason, founder of Wine Access.

All wines are judged in categories according to varietal or style, not
their province of origin. They will be further sub-grouped by vintage within the flights. All wines will be scored using the Wine Access 100-point system.

If you would like a sample of the scoring guidelines, please contact Event Manager Tom Firth.

Each wine earning the requisite points will get a medal.

Gold medals = 90 - 100 points
Silver medals = 88 - 89 points
Bronze medals = 86 - 87 points

The 2009 judges included (in no particular order):

Stuart Tobe, Vancouver, Gismondi-on-Wine, Wine Access
John Szabo, Toronto, Wine Access, First-in-Line E Report
Craig Pinhey , Rothesay NB, New Brunswick Telegraph, Wine Access
Bill Zacharkiw, Montreal, Montreal Gazette, Wine Access
DJ Kearney, Vancouver, ISG Instructor, Wine Access
David Scholfield, Vancouver, Private Consultant
Sid Cross, Vancouver, Western Living
Véronique Rivest, Ottawa, Le Droit, CBC Radio
Ben Macphee-Sigurdson Winnipeg, Winnipeg Free Press, Wine Access
Janet Dorozynski, Ottawa, Trade Commisioner, CDN Wine, Beer and Spirits
Adam Dial, Nova Scotia, Appellation America
David Lawrason, Toronto, Toronto Life, Wine Access
Tony Aspler, Toronto, Tonyaspler.com
Steve Thurlow, Toronto, Wine Access, Wine for Life
Tom Firth, Calgary, Wine Access