The Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards (CWA) is open to all wines that are 100% grown, vinified and bottled in Canada.

To be eligible for the Winery of the Year award, a winery must enter a minimum of six wines. The top five scoring entries will be used to determine the 'Winery of the Year'. There is NO limit on the number of entries that any single winery may enter.

Stay tunned for 2013 registration details.

Who Can Enter

Any agent, winery or authorized representative whose wine qualifies for entry based on the guidelines listed below. 

Cost of Entry

$100 CDN plus 5% tax (GST) per wine entry, secure online payment by credit card or by cheque payable to RedPoint Media Group.

If you must pay by cheque, please indicate which winery/brand the payment is for and contact  Kathy Randle, Director of Marketing, to ensure registration accuracy. Do not send your cheques packed along with wine or sales and technical sheets.

Registrants must ship three 750mL or six 375mL bottles of wine (or equivalent volume) per entry to allow for multiple rounds of tasting. Wineries are welcome to submit four bottles to avoid the risk of a wine being rejected due to potential bottle flaws. All wines submitted are for the exclusive use of judging at the Canadian Wine Awards.

Qualifications for Entry

All entries must:

1. Have a minimum production of 75 cases (12 bottles/case) of 750 ml bottles, or equivalent volume, for commercial availability.
2. Be available for public retail sale somewhere in Canada during the 2012 calendar year, or scheduled for release by January 31, 2013. (Please note: As results will be released in late November 2012, wines should still be available in the market at that time.)
3. Be considered current vintages (see acceptable dates below). The Canadian Wine Awards is designed to award current releases and as a result older wines are not eligible, even if they remain commercially available.

Sparkling: All vintage-dated and non-vintage sparkling wines are admissible (provided they meet the guidelines listed above).

White: All whites must bear a vintage date of 2010, 2011 or 2012.

Red: Vintage from 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012 is acceptable. Wines from 2008 or earlier are eligible if it is guaranteed to be the first release available for public retail sale somewhere in Canada.

Late Harvest/Icewine: Must bear a vintage date of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011.

Fruit: Must be grown and bottled in 2009 or later, whether or not they bear a vintage date.

Please note:Judges may request to see bottling records if they feel the content is more mature than its display date. Entries failing to display any vintage date may be disqualified. 

No tank or barrel samples are permitted.

If your wines qualify, please read our Shipping Guidelines to confirm that we are able to receive your wine delivery.