2004 Ontario Wine Awards

TORONTO - Saturday, May 1, 2004 - The ninth annual Ontario Wine Awards took place last night at Queen's Landing in Niagara-on-the-Lake celebrating the premium quality of local Ontario wines. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded in 24 categories based on the judging results of six tasting panels. The most prestigious Toronto Star Wine of the Year trophy was awarded to Niagara College Teaching Winery 2002 Pinot Noir for receiving the highest aggregate score of the competition.

The Ontario Wine Society's Winemaker of the Year Award went to Ann Sperling of Malivoire Wine Company in recognition of her consistent, yet innovative, ability to produce quality wines from a broad spectrum of Ontario grown grapes. The traditional prize, a Movado watch, was presented to Ann for her leadership role in Ontario winemaking.

The Ontario Wine Awards introduced a special award this year for Ontario's most accomplished Ontario Sommelier blind taster of Ontario wines. Sommeliers actively working in Ontario Restaurants were invited to participate in a blind tasting where participants tasted eight Ontario wines. The recipient of the Riedel Ontario Sommelier Award went to Karen Rossi, Pillar & Post Inn.

Commenting on the results, Tony Aspler, founder and Executive Director of the awards said "The gold, silver and bronze results from this year's Ontario Wine Awards emphasize the large number of Ontario wineries producing wines to the very highest standards in Ontario. From very small boutique to large commercial Ontario wineries, these results indicate a province wide commitment to the highest standards of wine production. The entries increase each year at an astonishing rate, proving the dedication that local vintners have to producing world-class wines", states Tony. He went on to say, "The awards keep growing and with the addition of new categories such as the Riedel Ontario Sommelier Award and the overall generousity of our sponsors, there is no limit to this event in site."

The 2004 competition drew a record breaking 453 entries in 24 categories which were evaluated blind by six panels of professional tasters. Each panel has a long history of assessing wines from around the world and their selection of gold, silver and bronze is an indication of high quality for the consuming public.

2004 Ontario Wine Awards - Results

The Tasting Rooms Restaurant Sparkling Wine Cuve Close Award
Gold: Colio Estate 2002 Lily Sparkling Wine
Silver: Magnotta Winery Sparkling Wine Classic
Bronze: Colio Estate 2002 Sparkling Wine CEV Lily

Vintage Inns Sparkling Wine - Traditional Method Award
Gold: Peller Estates Winery Sparkling Wine Cristalle
Silver: Château des Charmes Sparkling Wine Brut
Bronze: Henry of Pelham Family Estate 2002 Sparkling Wine Cuve Catharine Brut Rosé

Grape Growers of Ontario Riesling Dry Award
Gold: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2003 Riesling
Silver: Hernder Estate 2003 Riesling
Bronze: Vineland Estates 2003 Riesling Dry

The Wine Vault Other Whites Award
Gold: Hernder Estate 2002 Vidal
Silver: Inniskillin 2002 Viognier Servos Vineyard
Silver: Peller Estates 2002 Muscat Heritage Series
Bronze: Legends Estate 2003 Vidal Heritage

Movado in Association with Kara Jewellers Pinot Gris Award
Gold: Pelee Island Winery 2002 Pinot Gris Vendage Tardive
Silver: Stoney Ridge Estate 2003 Pinot Gris Twenty Valley
Bronze: Thomas & Vaughan Vintners 2003 Pinot Grigio

The Wine Establishment Sauvignon Blanc Award
Gold: Peninsula Ridge Estates 2003 Sauvignon Blanc
Silver: Southbrook Winery 2003 Sauvignon Blanc Triomphe
Bronze: Southbrook Winery 2002 Sauvignon Blanc Triomphe

Niagara Credit Union Chardonnay Unoaked Award
Gold: Stoney Ridge Estate 2003 Charlotte's Chardonnay Founder's Signature Collection
Silver: Vineland Estates 2002 Chardonnay
Bronze: Cilento Wines 2002 Chardonnay

Blair Franklin Capital Partners Inc. Barrel Aged Chardonnay Award
Gold: Lailey Vineyard 2002 Chardonnay Limited Edition
Silver: Daniel Lenko Estate 2002 Chardonnay Old Vines French Oak
Bronze: Strewn Winery 2002 Chardonnay French Oak
Bronze: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2002 Chardonnay

LCBO Reserve Chardonnay Award
Gold: Southbrook Winery 1998 Chardonnay Triomphus
Silver: Jackson-Triggs Winery 2002 Proprietors' Grand Reserve Chardonnay
Bronze: Southbrook Winery 2000 Chardonnay Triomphus

JAZZ.FM91 Gewurztraminer Award
Gold: Legends Estates 2003 Gewurztraminer
Silver: Angels Gate Winery 2003 Gewurztraminer
Bronze: Marynissen Estates 2002 Gewurztraminer Barrel Select

The Forefront Communications Network Riesling Sweet Award
Gold: Konzelmann Estate 2002 Late Harvest Dry Riesling Traminer
Silver: Jackson-Triggs Winery 2002 Proprietors' Reserve Riesling
Bronze: Magnotta Winery 2002 Medium-Dry Riesling Special Reserve

Barenaked Ladies Rosé Award
Gold: Château des Charmes 2003 Rosé Cuvée d'Andrée
Silver: Peninsula Ridge Estates 2003 Rosé
Bronze: Magnotta Winery 2002 Rosé

The Ideal Printing Company Limited Hybrid Reds Award
Gold: Birchwood Estate 2002 Baco Noir
Silver: Lakeview Cellars Estate 2001 Baco Noir Reserve
Bronze: Hernder Estate 2002 Baco Noir

Vintage Inns Pinot Noir Award
Gold: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2002 Pinot Noir Barrel Aged
Silver: Birchwood Estate 2002 Pinot Noir
Bronze: Henry of Pelham Family Estate 2002 Pinot Noir Unfiltered
Bronze: Inniskillin 2002 Pinot Noir Montague Vineyard

Niagara Credit Union Other Vinifera Reds Award
Gold: Featherstone Estate 2002 Gamay Noir Unfiltered
Silver: Ridgepoint Wines 2002 Nebbiolo
Bronze: Willow Heights Estate 2002 Gamay Noir

Dare Foods Cabernet Franc Award
Gold: Vineland Estates 2002 Cabernet Franc
Silver: Featherstone Estate 2002 Cabernet Franc
Bronze: Legends Estate 2002 Cabernet Franc Reserve

Dairy Farmers of Canada Merlot Award
Gold: Stoney Ridge Estate 2002 Merlot Reserve Kew Vineyard
Silver: Jackson-Triggs Winery 2001 Merlot Delaine Vineyard
Bronze: Creekside Estate 2001 Merlot Signature

CIBC Aerogold Cabernet Sauvignon Award
Gold: Magnotta Winery 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Edition
Silver: Southbrook Winery 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Triomphe
Bronze: Pillitteri Estates 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage Keeper Meritage Award
Gold: Thomas & Vaughan Vintners 2000 Meritage Estate Reserve
Silver: Strewn Winery 1999 Three
Bronze: Stoney Ridge Estate 2002 Meritage Founder's Signature Collection

Toronto Star Syrah/Shiraz Award
Gold: Peninsula Ridge Estates 2002 Syrah
Silver: Cilento Wines 2002 Shiraz
Bronze: Creekside Estate 2002 Shiraz Signature

Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce Late Harvest White Award
Gold: Hillebrand Estates 2002 Late Harvest Vidal
Silver: Jackson-Triggs Winery 2002 Late Harvest Vidal Proprietors' Reserve
Bronze: Niagara College Teaching Winery 2002 Late Harvest Vidal

VINES Magazine Select Late Harvest White Award
Gold: Château des Charmes 2001 Totally Botrytis Affected Riesling Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard
Silver: Reif Estate 2001 Select Late Harvest Vidal
Bronze: Konzelmann Estate 2001 Select Late Harvest Riesling

VINES Magazine Vidal Icewine Award
Gold: Stoney Ridge Estate 1999 Vidal Icewine
Silver: Daniel Lenko Estate 2000 Vidal Icewine
Bronze: Crown Bench Estates 2001 Vidal Icewine Vintner's Select

Vintages Vinifera Icewine Award
Gold: Château des Charmes 2000 Riesling Icewine Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard
Silver: Pillitteri Estates 2002 Riesling Icewine
Bronze: Inniskillin 2002 Riesling Icewine

Evian Sparkling Icewine Award
Gold: Inniskillin 2002 Sparkling Vidal Icewine
Silver: Pillitteri Estates 2002 Sparkling Riesling Icewine

Fortified Wine Award
Silver: Peninsula Ridge Estates 2002 Ratafia

All Stick Best Label Design Award
Gold: Vineland Estates 2002 Cabernet-Merlot Reserve
Silver: Southbrook Winery 2000 Triomphus Chardonnay
Bronze: Pillitteri Estates 2002 Sweet Reserve Riesling

Toronto Star Wine of the Year Award
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2002 Pinot Noir

Ontario Tourism Wine Journalist Award
Chris Waters, VINES Magazine

Ontario Wine Society Winemaker of the Year Award
Ann Sperling, Malivoire Wine Company

Riedel Ontario Sommelier Award
Karen Rossi, Pillar & Post Inn