The Results are in for the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards
On April 3 through 5, 2023, fifteen esteemed professional wine judges from Western Canada gathered in Penticton to participate on a blind tasting panel for the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards competition to choose the best wines in our province.
The British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards were established in 2018, in partnership with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, The BCLGWA are presented by the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society in partnership with sponsors ContainerWorld and TricorBraun and is open to all licensed British Columbia wineries including fruit wines and mead. The competition is a celebration of excellence in winemaking.
Over the course of the three intense days of competition over five hundred wines from over one hundred BC wine producers were blind-tasted and scored by the judges. Wines were presented to the judges in carefully determined flights by an enthusiastic assembly of the Okanagan’s top sommeliers. Each wine was tasted and scored by a set criterion.
Based on their final scores, wines were ranked in Silver, Gold and Platinum categories. The final category of Platinum wines is then tasted again by the judges; where they determine the prestigious Wine of the Year.
“Judging at the BCLGWA is such a special opportunity because it gives us a snapshot of the industry at this point in time. What are the unexpected varieties and styles of wine that are emerging as high-quality examples? What are the new trends for our established varieties and styles? And the standard of quality keeps going up and up!”
Barbara Philip- Master of Wine and 2023 BCLGWA Judge
Of the five hundred wines submitted, one hundred and eight-five wines medaled in the prescribed categories demonstrating the stringent process of determining the very best wines in the province.
On June 9th, 2023, the platinum winners will be invited to attend the awards reception to receive their recognition in anticipation of the Wine of the Year announcement.
The 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards winners have much to celebrate.
This year’s acclaimed judges were:
- Barbara Philip MW – Vancouver
- Brad Royale – Calgary
- DJ Kearney – Vancouver
- Emily Walker – Summerland
- Iain Philip – Vancouver
- Jenna Briscoe- Vancouver
- Johanne Audette- Vernon
- Kurtis Kolt- Vancouver
- Matthew Landry – Vancouver
- Mia Papadopoulos- Kelowna
- Rhys Pender MW – Kelowna
- Rory Conroy- Vancouver
- Sid Cross – Vancouver
- Terry David Mulligan- Victoria
- Tim Pawsey – Vancouver
About The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society:
The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is responsible for producing three seasonally inspired Okanagan Wine Festivals in Winter, Spring, and Fall. It is also responsible for Signature Wine Events, including the Grand Tastings held in Spring and fall, the TASTE Passport, and more. It produces and runs the annual wine judging competition: the province’s most prestigious and oldest, the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards. For more information visit www.thewinefestivals.com
2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governors’ Wine Awards Results
PLATINUM
|
Backyard Vineyards |
Syrah Reserve |
2020 |
|
Fort Berens Estate Winery |
Cabernet Franc Reserve |
2020 |
|
Fox&Archer Wines |
Malbec |
2020 |
|
Hillside Winery & Bistro |
Viognier |
2021 |
|
Inniskillin Okanagan Winery |
Estate Riesling Icewine |
2018 |
|
Kismet Estate Winery |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
2018 |
|
Lake Breeze Vineyards |
Syrah |
2020 |
|
Moraine Estate Winery |
Malbec |
2021 |
|
O’Rourke Family Estate |
Clone 943 Pinot Noir |
2020 |
|
Quails’ Gate |
Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay |
2020 |
|
Stag’s Hollow Winery |
Renaissance Pinot Noir |
2020 |
|
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery |
Seven Stars Sirius |
2015 |
|
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery |
Reserve 7 |
2019 |
GOLD
|
50th Parallel Estate |
Chardonnay |
2020 |
|
Bench 1775 Winery |
Bench 1775 Glow |
2021 |
|
Bench 1775 Winery |
Bench 1775 Blanc de Blanc |
2020 |
|
Bench 1775 Winery |
Bench 1775 |
2021 |
|
Black Swift Vineyards |
Monarch Vineyard |
2019 |
|
Blasted Church Vineyards |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
2020 |
|
Blue Grouse Estate Winery |
2020 Pinot Noir |
2020 |
|
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery |
Sauvignon Blanc |
2021 |
|
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
2020 |
|
Chaberton Estate Winery |
Pinot Gris |
2022 |
|
Chaberton Estate Winery |
Meritage |
2019 |
|
Clos du Soleil Winery |
Clos du Soleil Fume Blanc 2022 |
2022 |
|
Da Silva Vineyards and Winery |
Pinot Noir – Legado Series |
2020 |
|
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards Ltd. |
Cabernet Franc |
2019 |
|
Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery |
Four Shadows Riesling Classic |
2022 |
|
Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery |
Four Shadows Riesling Dry |
2021 |
|
Gray Monk Estate Winery |
Odyssey Traditional Brut |
2018 |
|
Gray Monk Estate Winery |
Odyssey Meritage |
2019 |
|
Hester Creek Estate Winery |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
2020 |
|
Hillside Winery & Bistro |
Gewurztraminer |
2022 |
|
Intersection Estate Winery |
Riesling |
2020 |
|
Intrigue Wines Ltd |
Social White |
2022 |
|
Kismet Estate Winery |
Cabernet Franc |
2019 |
|
Kismet Estate Winery |
Mantra |
2020 |
|
Lake Breeze Vineyards |
Lake Breeze Pinot Gris |
2022 |
|
Lake Breeze Vineyards |
Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc |
2022 |
|
Laughing Stock Vineyards |
Portfolio |
2020 |
|
Laughing Stock Vineyards |
Blind Trust |
2020 |
|
Laughing Stock Vineyards |
Syrah |
2020 |
|
Laughing Stock Vineyards |
Viognier |
2021 |
|
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard |
Chardonnay |
2019 |
|
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard |
Gamay |
2021 |
|
Maan Farms Estate Winery |
Raspberry Dessert |
2020 |
|
Moon Curser Vineyards |
Syrah |
2020 |
|
Moraine Estate Winery |
SYRAH |
2020 |
|
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery |
Qwam Qwmt Syrah |
2019 |
|
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery |
Mer’r’yim Red Meritage |
2019 |
|
Peak Cellars |
Block 11 Riesling |
2021 |
|
Phantom Creek Estates |
Phantom Creek Estates Pinot Gris |
2020 |
|
Privato Vineyard & Winery |
Woodward Collection – Grande Reserve Pinot Noir |
2016 |
|
Ruby Blues |
Rose |
2022 |
|
Sandhill |
Cabernet Franc Terroir Driven Wine |
2020 |
|
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery |
Lover’s Lane Cabernet Franc |
2019 |
|
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery |
Royal Engineers Petir Verdot |
2019 |
|
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery |
The Connaught Syrah |
2020 |
|
See Ya Later Ranch |
Ping Meritage |
2020 |
|
See Ya Later Ranch |
Gewurztraminer |
2022 |
|
Seven Stones Winery |
Speaking Rock |
2021 |
|
SpearHead Winery |
Cuvee Pinot Noir |
2021 |
|
SpearHead Winery |
Clone 828 Pinot Noir |
2021 |
|
Sperling Vineyards |
Old Vines Riesling |
2021 |
|
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery |
Private Reserve Gewurztraminer |
2021 |
|
Tantalus Vineyards |
Riesling |
2021 |
|
Tantalus Vineyards |
Chardonnay |
2020 |
|
Tantalus Vineyards |
Pinot Noir |
2020 |
|
Tantalus Vineyards |
Old Vines Riesling |
2020 |
|
Terravista Vineyards |
FIGARO |
2021 |
|
the hatch |
Merlot Rider |
2017 |
|
Time Family of Wines |
Chronos Cabernet Sauvignon |
2020 |
|
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards |
Reserve Chardonnay |
2021 |
|
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery |
Seven Stars Polaris |
2019 |
|
Valley Commons |
Harvest Table White |
2021 |
|
Wesbert Winery |
Viognier |
2021 |
|
Wild Goose Winery |
Red Horizon |
2020 |
SILVER
|
40 Knots Winery |
40 Knots Spindrift |
2020 |
|
50th Parallel Estate |
Pinot Noir Estate |
2020 |
|
Arrowleaf |
Rosé |
2022 |
|
Arrowleaf |
Bacchus |
2022 |
|
Arrowleaf |
Zweigelt |
2021 |
|
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery |
Récolte Blanche |
2022 |
|
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery |
Gewürztraminer |
2022 |
|
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery |
Pinot Noir Terraces |
2021 |
|
Bench 1775 Winery |
Gewurztraminer |
2020 |
|
Bonamici Cellars |
Belviaggio |
2020 |
|
Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Win- |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
2020 |
|
Cannon Estate Winery |
Rêverie |
2021 |
|
Cannon Estate Winery |
Allégresse |
2021 |
|
Chaberton Estate Winery |
Estate Grown Siegerrebe |
2022 |
|
Chaberton Estate Winery |
Cabernet Franc |
2019 |
|
Chain Reaction Winery |
Tailwind Pinot Gris |
2022 |
|
Chain Reaction Winery |
True Colours Rose |
2022 |
|
Clos du Soleil Winery |
Syrah |
2020 |
|
Clos du Soleil Winery |
Signature 2020 |
2020 |
|
Country Vines Winery |
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve |
2018 |
|
Culmina Family Estate Winery |
Malbec |
2019 |
|
Culmina Family Estate Winery |
Dilemma |
2019 |
|
Deep Roots Winery |
Parentage Red |
2020 |
|
Deep Roots Winery |
Reserve Chardonnay |
2020 |
|
Dirty Laundry Vineyard |
Riesling |
2022 |
|
ENRICO WINERY |
TEMPEST |
2022 |
|
ENRICO WINERY |
CORONET |
2021 |
|
Ex Nihilo Vineyards Okanagan Valley |
Pinot Noir |
2021 |
|
Ex Nihilo Vineyards Okanagan Valley |
Night |
2020 |
|
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards |
Fitz Brut |
2018 |
|
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards |
The Sudden Inversion Meritage |
2020 |
|
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards |
The Lavabomb Gamay |
2021 |
|
Fort Berens Estate Winery |
Riesling Reserve |
2021 |
|
Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery |
Merlot |
2020 |
|
French Door Estate Winery |
Fleur |
2022 |
|
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery |
Old Vines Auxerrois |
2022 |
|
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery |
Dry Rock Sauvignon Blanc |
2022 |
|
Gray Monk Estate Winery |
Odyssey Chardonnay |
2021 |
|
Haywire Winery |
Free Form Riesling |
2021 |
|
Hester Creek Estate Winery |
Syrah |
2020 |
|
Hester Creek Estate Winery |
Old Vine Pinot Blanc |
2022 |
|
Indigenous World Winery |
Single Vineyard Merlot |
2018 |
|
Inniskillin Okanagan Winery |
Vidal Icewine |
2018 |
|
Intersection Estate Winery |
Alluvia Unfiltered Merlot |
2019 |
|
Intersection Estate Winery |
Silica Unfiltered Merlot |
2019 |
|
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate |
Grand Reserve White Meritage |
2021 |
|
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate |
Reserve Riesling Icewine |
2018 |
|
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate |
Sunrock Vineyards Red Meritage |
2020 |
|
JoieFarm Winery |
A Noble Blend |
2022 |
|
JoieFarm Winery |
Unoaked Chardonnay |
2022 |
|
Kismet Estate Winery |
Moksha |
2019 |
|
Kismet Estate Winery |
Syrah |
2020 |
|
Lake Breeze Vineyards |
Pinot Noir |
2021 |
|
Lakeside Cellars |
Cabernet Franc |
2019 |
|
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard |
Blanc de Noirs |
2021 |
|
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard |
Cabernet Franc |
2020 |
|
Maan Farms Estate Winery |
Strawberry Rhubarb |
2021 |
|
Maan Farms Estate Winery |
Blackberry Dessert |
2020 |
|
Moraine Estate Winery |
PINOT NOIR |
2021 |
|
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery |
Summit |
2019 |
|
Niche Wine Co |
Farm Fresh White |
2021 |
|
Nighthawk Vineyards |
Cabernet Franc |
2019 |
|
Nighthawk Vineyards |
Pinot Noir Rosé |
2022 |
|
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery |
Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon |
2019 |
|
Nk’Mip Cellars Winery |
Mer’r’yim White Meritage |
2021 |
|
O’Rourke Family Estate |
Chardonnay |
2020 |
|
O’Rourke Family Estate |
Pinot Noir |
2020 |
|
O’Rourke Family Estate |
Twisted Pine Chardonnay |
2020 |
|
Peak Cellars |
Riesling |
2021 |
|
Peak Cellars |
Glacial Till Pinot Gris |
2021 |
|
Peak Cellars |
Gruner Veltliner |
2020 |
|
Phantom Creek Estates |
Phantom Creek Estates Vineyard Syrah |
2020 |
|
Priest Creek Family Estate Winery |
Meliora |
2018 |
|
Red Rooster Winery |
Malbec |
2020 |
|
River Stone Estate Winery |
Reflections |
2019 |
|
Robin Ridge Winery |
Gamay |
2021 |
|
Roche Wines |
Tradition Pinot Gris |
2020 |
|
Roche Wines |
Tradition Pinot Noir |
2018 |
|
Rust Wine Co. |
“South Rock” Syrah |
2020 |
|
Rust Wine Co. |
“Lazy River Vineyard” Syrah |
2020 |
|
Rust Wine Co. |
Riesling |
2022 |
|
Sandhill |
Pinot Gris Terroir Driven Wine |
2022 |
|
Sandhill |
Syrah Terroir Driven Wine |
2020 |
|
Sandhill |
Single Vineyard TWO ‘Sandhill Estate Vineyard’ |
2019 |
|
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery |
Interurban Estate Cabernet Foch |
2020 |
|
SpearHead Winery |
Saddle Block Pinot Noir |
2021 |
|
SpearHead Winery |
Saddle Block Chardonnay |
2021 |
|
Stag’s Hollow Winery |
Renaissance Syrah |
2020 |
|
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery |
Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc |
2020 |
|
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery |
Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon |
2020 |
|
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery |
Mountain Jay Brut |
2017 |
|
Terralux Estate Winery |
Reserve Chardonnay |
2020 |
|
Terravista Vineyards |
FANDANGO |
2021 |
|
The View Winery |
Elements Pinot Gris |
2022 |
|
The View Winery |
Pink Rhino |
2022 |
|
Three Sisters Winery |
Sauvignon Blanc |
2022 |
|
Tightrope Winery |
Sauvignon Blanc – Sémillon |
2022 |
|
Time Family of Wines |
McWatters Collection Brut |
2017 |
|
Time Family of Wines |
McWatters Meritage |
2020 |
|
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards |
Reserve Syrah |
2020 |
|
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery |
seven stars Equinox |
2018 |
|
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery |
NBO |
2019 |
|
Upper Bench Estate Winery & Creamery |
Riesling |
2022 |
|
Van Westen Vineyards |
V |
2019 |
|
Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery Inc. |
Meritage |
2017 |
|
Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery Inc. |
V Series |
2022 |
|
Wild Goose Winery |
Pinot Gris |
2022 |
|
Wild Goose Winery |
Gewürztraminer |
2022 |
