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National Wine Awards of Canada 2024 (NWAC)
The WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC) is 24 years old in 2024, having conducted 23 previous competitions (missing only 2020 due to the global pandemic). Today, it is the country’s largest and most respected competition, involving 100 percent Canadian-grown and produced wines. It was founded by co-chairs Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason in 2001 and is held annually in various locations across Canadian wine country. The judging involves a select group of Canadian wine writers, educators, sommeliers, and two international judges who spend a week assessing some 2000 wines and ciders.
The 2024 judging takes place June 21 to 25 near Niagara Falls, Ontario, in the heart of the Niagara wine country.
Please take a look below for instructions on User Registration and Login. We look forward to seeing your wines and ciders at Canada’s 2024 National Wine Awards.
The National Wine Awards of Canada is for ciders, too! You can enter if you are a Canadian-based cidery that utilizes Canadian-grown apples and fruit. We have several cider categories to ensure your products are treated with respect. With increased submissions, we are bringing back the Best Cider of the Year award to be awarded for the highest-scoring cider (not including iced ciders).
Those interested in following the competition via the judge’s remarks can see all their reactions and insight into the week’s activities on X/Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #NWAC24 and #NWAC2024.
Each year, the National Wine Awards presents four major awards: The Canadian Winery of the Year, The Best Performing Small Winery producing less than 10,000 Cases, Icewine of the Year, and Cider of the Year. Within the give-or-take 37 categories, wines are awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals, all topped by Platinum medals bestowed on the top one percent of the highest-scoring wines across all competition categories.
The National Wine Awards of Canada have become Canada’s definitive national wine competition and the opportunity to benchmark yourself against the country’s best and brightest producers, who, in a rare moment for any country, almost all come together to compete at The Nationals. As David Lawrason and Anthony Gismondi say, “There is no hiding at The Nationals. Multiple intensive rounds of blind tastings by a diverse panel of professional wine people with decades of experience operating at the highest levels in wine nationally and internationally separate the ordinary from the outstanding, yielding the most important medals in the country. You can compete against a handful of Canadian wineries at various international tastings, but when you enter The Nationals, with entries hovering at some 2000 Canadian wines, the results are the most meaningful for consumers and wineries.”
Speaking of results, we have sped up the final reporting process to get the results to all participating wineries and cideries sooner. This allows you to maximize your ability to market your wines and wineries throughout the busy late summer and fall seasons. Full results, including Canadian Winery of the Year and Best Performing Small Winery of the Year, will be published on WineAlign by the end of July.
Several years ago, we instituted the first full integration of the results into the WineAlign website, in effect creating a lasting virtual medal for all winning participants so that we will post silver, gold, and platinum wine notes on WineAlign (many in both French and English), along with high-quality bottle images.
Please take a look below for instructions on User Registration and Login. We look forward to seeing your wines and ciders at Canada’s 2024 National Wine Awards.
Cost of Entry:
April 1 – 30: $140/wine + HST
May 1 – 31: $145/wine + HST
June 1 – 9 : $150/wine + HST
Note: Fees must also be paid in those times in order to receive the early bird prices.
REGISTER (& PAY) EARLY AND SAVE!
Please submit a minimum of three 750ml bottles or equivalent.
Rules for Entry
Shipping
Registration
Frequently Asked Questions
Important Dates:
Shipping to Western consolidation point ends: Friday, May 17 at 4:00 pm
Shipping to Eastern consolidation point ends: Monday, June 10 at 4:00 pm
Online registration ends: Friday, May 31
Wine entry fees must be paid by: Friday, June 7
Please use the menu at the top and bottom of the page to find more information about Registration, Rules for Entry, Judges, Shipping, Promoting Your Wines, Sponsors, and FAQ.
User Registration and Login Instructions
When you click on Register Now, you will come to this page.
If you have entered wines into the National Wine Awards of Canada in previous years you will already have an account. Please click on Login at the top of the page. You will then get the page below. Fill in your login information. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
If you have never entered wines into the National Wine Awards of Canada before then you will need to register an account. Please click on User Registration at the top of the page. You will then get the page below. Please fill in the form and follow the instructions. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Questions or comments? Contact us: [email protected]