2015 Ontario Wine Awards

The 2015 Ontario Wine Awards were announced earlier this month. The OWAs were started by Tony Aspler in 1995 to showcase Ontario VQA Wines. There are 25 different categories judged and this year 79 Ontario wineries entered.OWA Logo Darker-no year-1

In addition to the separate categories they choose an overall red and white wine of the year, as well as naming a winemaker of the year, a label design category, and a wine journalist award.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Sparkling Wine Award

  • Gold: Huff Estates 2010 Cuvée Peter F Huff
  • Silver: Colio Estate N/V Lily Sparkling
  • Bronze: Konzelmann Estate N/V Methode Cuve Close Rosé

Dry Riesling Award

  • Gold: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2013 Riesling
  • Silver: Stanners Vineyard 2012 Riesling
  • Bronze: Two Sisters Vineyards 2013 Riesling
  • Bronze: Flat Rock Cellars 2014 Nadja’s Vineyard

Semi-Dry Riesling Award

  • Gold: Flat Rock Cellars 2014 Riesling
  • Silver: Vieni Estates 2013 Riesling Semi-Dry
  • Bronze: Kacaba Vineyards 2014 Reserve Riesling

Dry White Varietal Award

  • Gold: Inniskillin 2013 Reserve Viognier
  • Silver: Cornerstone Estate 2011 Stoned White
  • Bronze: Pillitteri Estates 2013 Viognier

Gewurztraminer Award

  • Gold: Trius 2013 Showcase Outlier Gewurztraminer
  • Silver: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2013 Small Lot Gewurztraminer
  • Bronze: Pillitteri Estates 2013 Gewurztraminer

Pinot Blanc/Pinot Gris Award

  • Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2013 Pinot Blanc
  • Silver: Konzelmann Estate 2013 Pinot Grigio
  • Silver: Kacaba Vineyards 2014 Jennifer’s Pinot Gris
  • Bronze: No Bronze Awarded

Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Award

  • Gold: Peller Estates 2013 AP Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc
  • Silver: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2013 Balance Sauvignon Blanc
  • Bronze: Jackson-Triggs 2013 Grand Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

Oaked Chardonnay Award ~ Under $20

  • Gold: Flat Rock Cellars 2012 Chardonnay
  • Silver: Magnotta 2013 Chardonnay Limited Edition
  • Bronze: Keint-he 2013 Voyageur Chardonnay

Oaked Chardonnay Award ~ Over $20

  • Gold: 16 Mile Cellar 2011 Civility Chardonnay
  • Silver: Huff Estates 2012 South Bay Chardonnay
  • Bronze: The Foreign Affair 2010 Chardonnay
  • Bronze: Ravine Vineyard Estate 2013 Chardonnay

Unoaked Chardonnay Award

  • Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2013 Unoaked Chardonnay
  • Silver: Kacaba Vineyards 2014 Unoaked Chardonnay
  • Bronze: Two Sisters Vineyards 2013 Unoaked Chardonnay

Rosé/Blanc de Noir Award

  • Gold: Henry of Pelham Family Estate 2014 Rosé
  • Silver: Flat Rock Cellars 2014 Pink Twisted
  • Bronze: John Howard Cellars of Distinction 2014 Rosé

Gamay Award

  • Gold: Vieni Estates 2012 Gamay Noir
  • Silver: 13th Street 2013 Gamay Noir Sandstone Vineyard
  • Silver: Château des Charmes 2013 Gamay Noir, Estate Bottled
  • Bronze: No Bronze Awarded

Pinot Noir Award

  • Gold: Huff Estates 2013 Pinot Noir
  • Silver: Domaine Queylus 2012 Pinot Noir
  • Bronze: Stanners Vineyard 2012 Pinot Noir Four Mile Creek

Red Hybrid Award

  • Gold: Pelee Island 2013 Baco Noir Reserve
  • Silver: Hernder Estates 2012 Baco Noir
  • Bronze: Henry of Pelham Estate 2013 Baco Noir
  • Bronze: Sandbanks Estate 2013 Baco Noir Reserve

Cabernet Sauvignon Award

  • Gold: Trius 2012 Showcase East Block Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Silver: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2012 Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Bronze: GreenLane Estate 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc Award

  • Gold: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2012 Small Lot Cabernet Franc
  • Silver: Trius 2012 Showcase Red Shale Cabernet Franc
  • Bronze: Pillitteri Estates 2012 Exclamation Cabernet Franc

Merlot Award

  • Gold: Kacaba Vineyards 2010 Reserve Merlot
  • Silver: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2012 Small Lot Merlot
  • Bronze: Jackson-Triggs 2012 Grand Reserve Merlot

Syrah/Shiraz Award

  • Gold: Jackson-Triggs 2012 Delaine Syrah
  • Gold: Magnotta 2013 Shiraz Limited Edition
  • Silver: No Silver Awarded
  • Bronze: Jackson-Triggs 2012 Grand Reserve Shiraz

Meritage and Cabernet/Merlot Blends Award

  • Gold: Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2012 Benchmark Red
  • Silver: Calamus Estate 2012 Meritage
  • Bronze: Wayne Gretzky Estate 2012 Estate Series Cabernet Merlot

Late Harvest Award

  • Gold: Peller Estates 2013 Private Reserve Late Harvest Vidal
  • Silver: Pillitteri Estates 2014 Select Late Harvest Vidal
  • Bronze: Trius 2013 Showcase Late Harvest Vidal

Vidal Icewine Award

  • Gold: Château des Charmes 2012 Vidal Icewine, Estate Bottled
  • Gold: Sue-Ann Staff Estate 2012 Vidal Icewine
  • Silver: No Silver Awarded
  • Bronze: Konzelmann Estate 2010 Vidal Icewine
  • Bronze: Jackson-Triggs 2012 Grand Reserve Vidal Icewine
  • Bronze: Marynissen Estates 2013 Vidal
  • Bronze: Inniskillin 2013 Vidal Icewine

Vinifera Icewine Award

  • Gold: Inniskillin 2012 Riesling Icewine
  • Silver: Hinterbrook Estate 2012 Cabernet Franc Icewine
  • Bronze: Vieni Estates 2011 Cabernet Icewine
  • Bronze: Willow Springs 2012 Riesling Icewine
  • Bronze: Jackson-Triggs 2013 Grand Reserve Cabernet Franc Icewine

Appassimento Red Award

  • Gold: Pillitteri Estates 2010 Riserva Famiglia Cabernet Franc
  • Silver: Reif Estate 2012 Kiln Dried Syrah
  • Bronze: Angels Gate 2012 Bin XCV

Blended Red Award

  • Gold: The Foreign Affair 2012 Petit Verdot
  • Silver: Kacaba Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Syrah
  • Bronze: EastDell Estates 2011 Black Label Cabernet Shiraz
  • Bronze: Inniskillin 2012 Reserve Shiraz Cabernet

Red Wine of the Year Award: Pillitteri Estates 2010 Riserva Famiglia Cabernet Franc

White Wine of the Year Award: Peller Estates 2013 AP Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc

Best Label Design Award

  • Gold: Sue-Ann Staff Estate 2013 Fancy Farm Girl Foxy Pink
  • Silver: Two Sisters Vineyards 2012 Vidal Icewine
  • Bronze: Trius 2013 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

Wine Journalism Award: Evan Saviolidis

Winemaker of the Year Award: Emma Garner — Thirty Bench Wine Makers

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