On the Road with the Grape Guy

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

The 20th Annual Ontario Wine Awards were held Friday night at the Queen's Landing Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake hosted by former head of the LCBO Andy Brandt; who had to be one of the unintentionally funny MC I’ve ever experienced, between the butchering of words (Pinot Griss, Cabernet Frank, Sara for Syrah, Ca-lamb-us for Calamus and Toss-e for Tawse) and the total omission of names he did not want to pronounce like Musque and Viognier during presentation.  Brandt was a train wreck of utter-proportions, but at least you knew the room was listening for his next faux pas and he was the talk of the room once it was all over.  One person commented to me, "He's my favourite MC at [The Ontario Wine Awards] ever, I just never knew what was going to come out of his mouth from one moment to the next.  Obviously pronunciation has gone out the window tonight, it's a free-for-all."  Others could not believe that the once head of the LCBO could not pronounce grape varieties correctly.

Big winners this evening were Chateau des Charmes, winning three Golds for Dry Riesling, Dry White Varietal and Gamay along with 3 other awards for a total of six.  Tawse took five awards, but no gold.  While Inniskillin swept the icewine golds and totaled 6 medals in total, while sister winery Jackson-Triggs took four medals.

Winner of White Wine of the Year honours went to Chateau des Charmes 2012 ‘Old Vines’ Riesling; while Red Wine of the Year was taken by Angels Gate Winery 2010 Mountainview Pinot Noir.

There were no Golds handed out in the Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc / Pinot Gris, and surprisingly in the Cabernet Franc categories.  

Exultet Winery, from Prince Edward County, took home the Gold for Oaked Chardonnay over $20.00 for the fourth year in a row … this guy owns this award!!!

Winemaker of the Year went to Brian Schmidt of Vineland, who made one of the best acceptance speeches by a recipient of the award in quite some time referring to wine as “liquid music” is the art form of the winemaker.  

And the Gold Medal winning wines are …
The rest of the winners, in the silver and bronze categories, can be found at www.ontariowineawards.ca.

Sparkling Wine –
Peller Estates NV Ice Cuvee Rosé
Peller Estates NV Ice Cuvee Classic

Dry Riesling –
Chateau des Charmes 2012 ‘Old Vines’ Riesling, Estate Bottled
*winner of the White Wine of the Year Award

Semi-Dry Riesling –
Trius 2012 Showcase Ghost Creek Riesling

Dry White Varietal –
Chateau des Charmes 2012 Aligote, St. David’s Bench Vineyard

Gewurztraminer –
No Gold Awarded

Pinot Blanc / Pinot Gris –
No Gold Awarded

Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon –
Trius 2012 Showcase Clean Slate Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc

Oaked Chardonnay (under $20) -
Angels Gate 2010 Mountainview Chardonnay

Oaked Chardonnay (over $20) -
Exultet Estates 2012 The Blessed Chardonnay*
*Exultet has won in this category 4 years in a row

Unoaked Chardonnay –
Malivoire Wine Company 2013 Musque Spritz
*Malivoire won this award last year with the same wine

Rosé / Blanc de Noir -
Sue-Ann Staff Estate 2012 Rosé

Gamay –
Chateau des Charmes 2012 Gamay Noir, Estate Bottled

Pinot Noir –
Angels Gate 2010 Mountainview Pinot Noir
*winner of the Red Wine of the Year Award

Red Hybrid –
Malivoire Wine Company 2012 Old Vines Foch

Cabernet Sauvignon –
Ravine Vineyard Estate 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc –
No Gold Awarded

Merlot –
Angels Gate 2012 Merlot

Syrah/Shiraz –
Jackson-Triggs 2011 Delaine Syrah

Meritage and Cabernet/Merlot Blends –
The Foreign Affair 2010 Temptress

Late Harvest –
Peller Estates 2012 Private Reserve Late Harvest Vidal

Vidal Icewine –
Inniskillin 2011 Sparkling Vidal Icewine

Vinifera Icewine –
Inniskillin 2011 Sparkling Cabernet Franc Icewine

New Category …
Appassimento Red Award –
Rennie Estate 2011 G

Blended Red Award –
Inniskillin 2010 Winemaker’s Series Shiraz-Cabernet

Blended White Award –
Vineland Estates 2012 Chenin Blanc

Best Label Design Award –
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2012 Balance Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker of the Year -
Brian Schmidt – Vineland Estates Winery

Wine Journalism Award -
Rick VanSickle

To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.

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