The winners of the 2015 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in B.C. Wines have been announced and 13 of the 14 winners are from the Okanagan.
This year there were 425 wines submitted by 116 wineries for judging, and that list was whittled down to just a handful.
Lake Breeze won for its 2012 Merlot (Photo Credit: Lake Breeze)
"The outstanding quality of wines in British Columbia impresses our wine judges each year and makes the selection increasingly difficult," said Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. "This year's winners represent the best of the exceptional wines from our province."
The lone winery to to be given the award from outside of the Okanagan was Enrico Winery for its 2014 Tempest Ortega.
The winners from the Okanagan include:
Lake Country’s 50th Parallel Estate 2013 Chardonnay
Okanagan Falls' BC Wine Studio’s 2012 Siren’s Call Syrah
Oliver’s Cassini Cellars 2012 Cabernet Franc Collector’s Series
Okanagan Falls' Blasted Church Vineyards 2012 Holy Moly Petit Verdot
Winfield’s Ex Nihilo Vineyards 2013 Pinot Noir
Oliver’s Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Winery 2014 Riesling Icewine
Naramata’s Lake Breeze Vineyards 2012 Merlot
Okanagan Falls' Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2010 "The One" Sparklin
Oliver’s Platinum Bench Estate Winery 2013 Gamay Noir Block 28
Naramata’s Red Rooster Winery 2012 Syrah Reserve
Naramata’s Ruby Blues Winery 2014 Commune Viognier
Okanagan Falls' Wild Goose Vineyards and Winery 2014 Mystic River Gewürztraminer
Oliver's Church & State Wines 2012 Quintessential
50th Parallel Estate won for its 2013 Chardonnay. (Photo Credit: 50th Parallel Estate)
The Lieutenant Governor will visit the winning wineries from July 20th to 22nd to present the awards. Members of the Consular Corps of British Columbia will accompany her while she makes these presentations so they can gain knowledge of British Columbia's renowned wine industry.
All wineries in British Columbia were invited to submit their wines for blind judging by a panel of wine industry professionals. Wines submitted had to be from 100 per cent British Columbian-grown grapes and produced in province to be eligible.
