2026 National Wine Awards of Canada

It's an important moment to recognize some of the best wines and wineries in Canada. Congratulations to Tawse Winery, the well-deserved Winery of the Year, but even more than that, it's a moment to celebrate Canadian wine.

The awards offer a chance to take a snapshot of Canadian wine at this moment in time. With more than 1,800 entries, no competition allows you to do this quite like the Nationals. It's not only the breadth of entries, but also the quality. Collectively, most of the very best wines in Canada are represented.

For this reason, I constantly refer back to my notes throughout the entire year after a competition. They inform my ever-evolving perspective on a region or sub-region. They inform the recommendations and buying decisions I make. They also put new wineries on my radar, or old ones I'd overlooked and needed to revisit.

With that in mind, here are my key takeaways from this year's competition.

Diversity as a platinum strength

The Platinum medals, as summarized by Anthony in his overview, show the real diversity of Canadian wine. The list isn't dominated by a single grape variety or category, but rather reflects the range of what's happening both across Canada and within each respective region. Although there will always be debate about what the (potential) signature grape variety could be for each region, it simply doesn't reflect the reality on the ground.

Red blends have never been better

One of the standouts for me this year was the Red Blend category. It's a large category that can be challenging to judge, between the range of styles and build-up of unrelenting tannin and acid. The wines run the gamut from light and juicy to some of the most serious, ageworthy wines in Canada. In many cases, we're looking into a crystal ball, anticipating where these wines will be in 10 or 20 years.

Not only was the average quality impressively high, but the top wines were truly world-class. For me, there are several conclusions to draw. The first is that grape-growing and winemaking across the country have arguably never been better than they are today. That's reflected in how the styles have evolved. Much of what we tasted was beautifully ripe yet still expressive, retaining fruit purity with balanced, judicious oak use.

Most exciting to me is that we're moving away from a Rhône or Bordeaux paradigm. Many of these blends are uniquely their own. It's remarkable what the addition of syrah can do in the Okanagan, or a heightened proportion of malbec. Or take the Stratus 2022 Red as an example, which continues to throw away the rule book entirely.

If you've been holding off on collecting Canadian red blends, now is the time to reconsider. Regardless of your budget, you can find value at every price point. The top wines can come with a hefty price tag, but in a global context they're still comparable bargains. And although we don't talk about it enough, many of these wines have the track record to prove they'll go the distance.

The strength of the category could also reflect recent vintages in both British Columbia and Ontario, where we've seen a run of warmer summers, including 2023. The winemaking is better, yes, but we've had the vintage conditions to back it up, too.

A mixed showing for pinot noir

That context matters for my next observation. Pinot noir is generally considered a strength coast-to-coast – and one of the categories judges look forward to most. This year, quality seemed more mixed than in past years, which may reflect the same conditions that made the Red Blend category so strong: warmer vintages in which pinot noir doesn't always thrive to the same degree. Only two platinum medals went to pinot noir this year, both from cooler (or more moderate) vintages: Little Engine Vineyard Select Pinot Noir from 2022 and Malivoire Pinot Noir Three Row from 2024.

Diversity can be a strength, but it's also an insurance policy. We also have to acknowledge that one of the challenges in Canada is the variance in vintage conditions, oscillating between cool, moderate, and warm. The relative quality of pinot noir remains high, but its zenith doesn't come from the warmer years. It's just another reason to not go all-in on a single grape.

Replacement wines are the real deal

Not to keep beating the same drum, but the replacement wine category was, for me, one of the most exciting in the competition. Although the results do not figure in the competition, with all the judges in one spot, it is a perfect opportunity to get feedback on the work done outside the country when no wine was being made in B.C. due to the deep freeze (see my full report next month at WineAlign). Anthony and I have been on the same soapbox for what feels like months now about the quality of the replacement wines released over the past six months. The quality of many is outstanding.

They also showcase a wide range of styles — from Roche's 2024 Artist Pinot Noir, sourced from the Willamette Valley, to CedarCreek's 2024 Syrah, sourced from the Rhône Valley, to Moraine's 2024 GSM, sourced from Washington State. What stands out is not just the quality but the superb value. If you were buying these wines in Washington, Oregon, or even the Rhône, the pricing would look very different – and that's ignoring the weak Canadian dollar. That we have wines of this quality at these prices should excite all wine enthusiasts – both the trade and consumers. And it speaks to the original promise of replacement wines: our favourite winemakers going to some of the world's top wine regions to source and make extraordinary wines, making the best of horrible circumstances.

Discoveries worth talking about

Speaking of discovery, I wanted to mention a couple of surprising wines that stood out to me.

The first was the 2024 Chenin Blanc from Clos Sans Frontières in Québec. Made in a more natural style, it was beautifully expressive of the variety, with real depth and complexity. It's remarkable that a wine of this quality and price (only $23!) is coming out of Québec right now. It made me think that I need to get on the next plane to Montréal, and head straight to the Eastern Townships. Because clearly something is happening right now that needs more of Canada's attention.

Then there was the Solera Mead from Rosewood. Mead is not a category I know particularly well, but it's made in a style familiar to any wine drinker. It's more sherry-like in character, with an aged rancio character underpinned by a honeyed richness.

It speaks to the fact that there's always something to learn and discover about Canadian wine.

Don't sleep on the Golds

My last note is buying advice. The platinum medals always garner the most attention, and rightly so. They represent the very best of the competition, the top one percent. That said, the line between many of the top golds and platinums is razor-thin, so don't limit your buying to just the platinums. Gold medal winners have earned at least 91 points from the judges. That's a meaningful score, because scores at this competition are generally conservative, especially when compared with other international competitions. Judges are rigorous and measured in their analysis, and I can assure you that if a wine earns a gold medal, it's worth seeking out and trying.

View the full 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada results at winealign.com.