WineAlign - Awards - 2019 NWAC Sparkling

Results of the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)

Sparkling

Category Overview by Judge Treve Ring

Once again based on this year’s stellar showing for sparkling, it’s obvious that we do fizz very well. Think about it: we do share the 49th parallel with Champagne, after all.

(Jump straight to the medal winners.)

While Ontario nabbed the pole, and sole, Platinum position this year with the striking and memorable Two Sisters 2016 Blanc de Franc from Niagara River, the Gold medals were sprinkled between BC, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Styles ranged widely, with golds struck for Blanc de Blancs (like the precise Lightfoot & Wolfville 2014) through to Blanc de Noirs (as in the structural Fitzpatrick 2015 Fitz Blanc de Noir), and ranging from Extra Brut up to traditional Brut levels.

The Silvers and Bronzes spread even more, showing the full diversity of what our 200+ sparkling producers from coast to coast can achieve. What’s becoming crystalline when tasting through these wines is just how much of a stamp the regions imprint onto the wines. Though we’re tasting all blind of course, it’s increasingly easy to read when a wine is from BC (pure, fruit-forward, and fresh); Ontario (sharp, leaner fruit, with more toast and edges); and Nova Scotia (screeching acidity, high tones, sleek and energetic fruit). This is an exciting category, and future, for Canadian wine. Cheers.

And the winners are…

Two Sisters Vineyards 2016 Blanc de Franc, Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

13th Street 2013 Premier Cuvee, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Blomidon 2015 Cuvée L’Acadie, Nova Scotia
Fitzpatrick 2015 Fitz Blanc de Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards 2014 Blanc de Blancs Brut, Nova Scotia
Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards 2014 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut , Nova Scotia
Malivoire Bisous Brut, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Megalomaniac Bubblehead, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc Brut, St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Valegro 2015 Traditional Method, Ontario

Arrowleaf 2018 Wildblume, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Blomidon 2017 Crémant, Nova Scotia
Cipes 2012 Blanc de Blanc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Enrico Winery 2018 Celebration, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Evolve Cellars Pink Effervescence, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Fielding Brut Traditional Method, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fitzpatrick 2016 Fitz Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
G.Marquis Ice Rosé The Silver Line, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Huff Estates 2016 Cuvee Peter F Huff, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Intrigue Wines I Do, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2015 Entourage, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
LaStella 2018 Moscato d’Osoyoos , Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Legacy 2018 Pet-Nat Pinot Blanc, Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario
Lighthall Vineyards 2018 Progression, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Magnotta Venture Series Starlight, Ontario
Megalomaniac 2018 Sparkling Personality, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Monte Creek Ranch 2018 Sparkling Reserve, British Columbia
Niagara College Teaching Winery Balance Brut, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Queenston Mile 2017 Mile High , Ontario
Redstone 2017 Rosé Sparkling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Steller’s Jay 2015 Mountain Jay Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stoneboat Piano Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
The Roost Wine Company 2017 Silk Purse, Ontario
Trius Brut, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Unsworth Charme De L’ile Rosé, Vancouver Island, British Columbia