Results from the 2025 Nationals – Sauvignon Blanc

Announcing the Results from the 2025 National Wine Awards of Canada

The 2025 Nationals took place in Penticton from June 21st to 25th. Today, we are pleased to announce the winners in the Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah/Shiraz, and Riesling categories. Category results will be rolling out throughout the rest of July, concluding with the Winery of the Year announcement on August 1st. We hope that you will stay tuned to follow the results!

Has Canadian sauvignon blanc ever been better?

Category Overview by Judge Michael Godel

Go straight to the winners.

As a postlude to the 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, this write-up now counts as the fifth time in the last six years that I have been tasked with the sauvignon blanc category. Starting in 2019 the title was “The diplomacy of Canadian sauvignon blanc.” In 2021 “The continuing maturation of Canadian sauvignon blanc” and from 2023, “The nine lives of sauvignon blanc.” That was followed up in 2024 with “Sail on sauvignon blanc” and here in 2025 the grape is bequeathed with “Has Canadian sauvignon blanc ever been better?” The pattern has developed into something obvious.

Of all the NWACs categories it is the unheralded sauvignon blanc that continues to play unsung hero because the unenlightened refuse to see the herbals and citrus through the Canadian trees. The varietal bracket continues to show favourable growth and also new promise because in spite of recent challenges, more producers are willing to invest, plant and also elevate their once pedestrian skus to wines elevated in stature. As noted last year, there has not been and will not be any fade into the waning light of Canadian winey and so the title “Has Canadian sauvignon blanc ever been better?” is in fact most apropos for 2025. Here is one particular note I wrote about a $30 sauvignon blanc from an archetypal producer. “Ultra distinctive sauvignon blanc personality with bursting aromas in the passion fruit and pungent way of the grape. Substantial, with palate intensity, verve and energy. Finishes with the same energy and so there is no mistaking the variety in this wine. Drink 2025-2027. Tasted blind at NWACs, June 2025.”

There are many manifestations of sauvignon blanc although most of us have a pretty strong feeling about what it will be like should we pour or be poured a glass. They most certainly can be varietal wines of a unique and possessive take, no matter their assimilation and capture of the world’s eighth most planted grape. In wine regions like Bordeaux, Marlborough, the Loire Valley and Collio sauvignon blanc is the first, second or third most cultivated. In New Zealand the grape uses up in and around 60 per cent of vineyard space and worldwide occupies more than 120,000 hectares (300,000 acres). Considerations about tasting sauvignon are tempered because one is always tempted to make comparisons, but now more than ever the sauvignon blanc of Canada stand out, unique and singular. Take them for what they are.

The entries were indeed down this year, owing in large part to the devastating early 2024 cold snap that ripped through and mortally wounded so many Okanagan Valley vineyards. For this reason 23 of the 30 medals awarded were to Ontario wineries. That would be 30 of the total 45 wines entered into the competition and remember that a good portion of sauvignon blanc grapes are destined for white blends, namely of the Bordeaux style from B.C. and in kitchen sink, proprietary lake effect blends from Ontario. The six Ontario Golds were special wines deserving of the accolades. Meldville Wines 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Grange of Prince Edward 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Newfield Block, VQA Prince Edward County, Two Sisters Vineyards 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Peller Estates 2023 Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Inniskillin 2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Divergence Wines 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Hughes Vineyard, VQA Four Mile Creek and Creekside 2024 Backyard Block Sauvignon Blanc, VQA Creek Shores. The lone B.C. Gold was given to Deep Roots 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Naramata Bench, BC VQA Okanagan Valley. Congratulations to these magnificent seven, along with the nine Silver and 14 Bronze medal winners.

Good to go!

godello

And the winners are…