THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ONTARIO WINE

Aimed at promoting Ontario viticulture and winemaking, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines was established in 2011. This awards program promotes VQA Ontario wines (made from 100% Ontario-grown and processed grapes). In this unique competition, all wines compete against each other—with eight to 12 being chosen for their excellence—regardless of vintage or varietal

Winners of the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines

• Bachelder Gamay Noir Wismer-Foxcroft Niagara Cru 52% Whole Cluster Gamay Noir 2020
• Big Head The Raw Syrah 2020
• Domaine Queylus La Grande Cabernet Franc Réserve 2020
• Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir Tradition 2019
• Kacaba Proprietor’s Block Syrah Escarpment 2019
• Peninsula Ridge Reserve Syrah 2016
• Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2019
• Strewn Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
• Wending Home Estate Vineyards Riesling 2020

Winners of the 2019 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines

• Big Head Wines 2018 Gewurztraminer
• Big Head Wines 2017 RAW Syrah
• Megalomaniac – John Howard Cellars of Distinction N/V Bubblehead
• Creekside Estate 2017 Iconoclast Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
• Flat Rock Cellars 2015 Gravity Pinot Noir
• Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2016 Grand Reserve Merlot
• Niagara College Teaching Winery 2017 Gastronomy Chardonnay
• Peller Estates 2016 Andrew Peller Signature Series Riesling
• Sue-Ann Staff Estate 2017 Howard’s Vidal Icewine
• Tawse 2013 Lenko Vineyard Chardonnay
• Trius 2016 Showcase Red Shale Cabernet Franc Clark Farm Vineyar

2018 winning wines

• 13th Street Winery Premier Cuvée 2012
• Trius Winery Showcase Ghost Creek Riesling 2016
• Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Riesling Block 150–183 2015
• Leaning Post Wines Chardonnay Clone 96 2016
• Tawse Winery Chardonnay–Quarry Road Vineyard 2013
• Konzelmann Estate Winery Late Harvest Gewürztraminer 2016
• The Farm Winery Pinot Noir–Mason Vineyard 2015
• Tawse Winery Cabernet Franc–David’s Block 2015
• Creekside Estate Winery Broken Press Reserve Syrah 2015
• The Foreign Affair Winery The Temptress 2015
• Hernder Estate Wines Late Harvest Riesling 2012

2017 Winners List:

Magnotta NV Blanc de Blancs
A fine Chardonnay sparkler made in the traditional method. A complex wine with persistent tiny bubbles with a toasty, leesy nose; medium-bodied, dry, green apple and hazelnut flavours with a long, minerally, nutty finish.

Creekside 2015 Iconoclast Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc
Pale straw colour with a spicy nose of grapefruit, green pear and lanolin; medium-bodied with a creamy texture, crisply dry, fresh and clean with an engaging tartness and good intensity of flavour.

Trius 2015 Showcase Clean Slate Sauvignon Blanc Wild Ferment
A beautifully balanced wine with a bouquet of cut grass, orange blossom with a thread of minerality. Medium-bodied, dry, round on the palate with flavours of gooseberries and passionfruit.

Flat Rock 2014 Rusty Shed Chardonnay
Golden straw colour with a green tint, this Chardonnay offers an expressive nose of red apple and melon with a floral note and toasty oak; full and rich on the palate, it sustains well thanks to its vibrant acidity.

Henry of Pelham 2016 Riesling Estate
A fine example of an off-dry Riesling. Pale straw colour with a nose of honeyed grapefruit and lime; light to medium-bodied, with guava and citrus fruit flavours that linger long on the palate.

Trius Showcase Riesling Ghost Creek Vineyard 2015
Pale lemon colour with orchard fruit aromas of peach and apple with a floral grace note; good tension between sweet fruit and citrus acidity with a long, mouth-freshening finish.

Château des Charmes 2015 Gamay Noir ‘Droit’ St. David’s Bench Vineyard
Medium ruby colour with a herbal, earthy, cherry nose and just a hint of oak; medium-bodied with meatiness in mid-palate and a dry and savoury plum flavour. Classic Ontario Gamay.

Nomad at Hinterbrook Cabernet Franc 2013
Deep ruby in colour with a flattering nose of bell pepper, coffee beans and currants; medium-bodied, dry, plum and cherry flavours with balancing acidity and a long finish.

Kew Vineyards 2012 Heritage
Bordeaux varieties subjected to appassimento treatment before fermentation. Ruby colour with a bouquet of dried berries with notes of leather, rose petals and moist earth. Medium to full-bodied with blackcurrant and coffee flavours that finish with a tannic lift on the finish.

Trius 2014 Showcase Vidal Icewine
Deep golden-amber colour; botrytis and floral notes on the nose redolent with mango, honey and peach aromas; full-bodied, sweet and unctuous on the palate with dried fig, tropical fruit and honey flavours kept in check by balancing acidity.

Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2014 Sparkling Vidal Icewine
Deep golden colour with a nose of caramel and apricot jam; medium weight, honeyed peach flavour with an active mousse whose bubbles ameliorate the wine’s sweetness and give length to the finish.

Winners of the 2016 Lieutenant Governor’s Award

• 2012 Creekside Estate Broken Press Syrah Reserve
• 2013 Exultet Estates Chardonnay “The Blessed”
• Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine (NV)
• 2014 Inniskillin Vidal Sparkling Icewine
• 2012 Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Meritage
• 2014 Jackson-Triggs Reserve Gewürztraminer Icewine
• 2012 Peller Estates AP Signature Series Cabernet Franc
• 2013 Southbrook Vineyards Estate Grown Small Lot Cabernet Franc
• 2013 Tawse Riesling Icewine
• 2013 Tawse Tintern Road Pinot Noir
• 2014 Thirty Bench Small Lot Riesling Wood Post Vineyard
• 2014 Trius Showcase Riesling Ghost Creek Vineyard

2015 Winners

~ Flat Rock Cellars - Riddled Sparking 2009

~ Flat Rock Cellars - Gravity Pinot Noir 2012

~ Hernder Estate Wines - Riesling 2010

~ Jackson-Triggs Riesling Icewine Reserve 2013

~ Peller Estates Sauvgnon Blanc Signature Series 2013

~ Peller Estate Gamay Noir Private Reserve, 2013

~ Thirty Bench - Small Lot Riesling “Wild Cask”, 2013

~ Creekside Estate Winery - Riesling 2014

~ Ravine Vineyards - Chardonnay 2013

~ Rockway Vineyards - small lot block 12-140 syrah 2012

2014 Winners

~ Peller Estates Private Reserve Vintage Gamay Noir, 2012
~ Trius Winery Showcase Ghost Creek Riesling, 2013
~ Trius Winery Trius Brut, NV
~ Tawse Winery Robyn's Block Chardonnay, 2011
~ Tawse Winery Carly's Block Riesling, 2012
~ Ravine Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay, 2010
~ Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir Traditional
~ Big Head Wines Syrah, 2012
~ Malivoire Wine Company Stouck Meritage, 2011
~ Inniskillin Discovery Series Botrytis Affected Viognier, 2013
~ Burning Kiln Winery Cab Franc 2012

Winners 2013

Wineries of Canada

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