The first Canada-wide oyster wine pairing competition sponsored by Codfathers Seafood Market , EAT Magazine and Walnut Beach Resort was held April 19, 2013 and winners were officially announced at the Oliver Osoyoos Oyster Festival.

The Canadian Oyster Wine Competition follows in the footsteps of the American Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition, created by Jon Rowley of Seattle’s Taylor Shellfish Farms. The Oliver Osoyoos Oyster festival is held each year in the heart of the wine country, a perfect venue for hosting Canada’s Oyster Wine competition. “Canadian wines are a natural pairing for our country’s oysters”, states Claire Sear, creator of the Canadian Oyster Wine Competition.

The inaugural competition saw over 80 entries divided into nine categories and was open to all wineries in Canada. The competition also included a “Wild Card” category open to any alcoholic beverage produced with 100% Canadian ingredients.

The categories and winners for this year’s competition were:

Best of Show: Blue Mountain 2011 Vineyards Pinot Gris

Pinot Blanc:  Winner:  Kraze Legz Estate Winery 2012;     Runner-Up: Lake Breeze Vineyards 2012
Un-Oaked Chardonnay: Winner: Poplar Grove Winery 2011;       Runner-Up:  Meyer Family Vineyards 2011
Oaked Chardonnay: Winner: Upper Bench Estate Winery 2011;    Runner-Up:  Dostana 2010
Riesling: Winner: Intrigue Wines, Focus Riesling 2012;    Runner-Up: Kalala Estate Winery 2010
Pinot Gris: Winner: Blue Mountain Vineyards 2011;      Runner-Up:  Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012
Sauvignon Blanc: Winner:  Bench 1775 2011;        Runner-Up: Clos du Soleil Fume Blanc 2012
Sparkling: Winner:  Haywire The Bub 2011    Runner-Up:  Noble Ridge Winery The One 2009
Wild Card: Winner: Cherry Point Estate Winery Gewurztraminer 2011  Runner-Up: Tinhorn Creek 2Bench White 2011

Judging took place at Walnut Beach where wines were paired with Marina’s Top Drawer Oysters from Outlandish Shellfish grown near Cortes Island.   www.outlandish-shellfish.com

Judges this year included Rhys Pender, Master of Wine and owner of www.wineplus.ca; Mark Filatow, Sommelier and Chef www.waterfrontrestaurant.ca and Canadian Culinary Championships British Columbia winner and finale competitor;  Audrey Surrao, WSET certified and co-owner www.raudz.com; Cassandra Anderton, food and wine writer and publisher of www.goodlifevancouver.com and Brad Cooper, Okanagan winemaker and owner of Black Cloud Winery.

“This was an interesting competition.  Many of the wines showcased quite well when paired with the raw oysters,” comments Rhys Pender, MW and owner Wine Plus+ “We all agree that 82 entries in year one was quite an impressive number for a first year competition and we look forward to watching the competition grow.”

The Oliver/Osoyoos Oyster Festival is sponsored by Walnut Beach Resort and was created to showcase the sustainable oysters produced by the farmers and guilds of the nearby West Coast together with the award-winning wines of the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association. Even oysters need a day in the sun! For more information on the festival visit online at: www.oooysterfestival.com or follow on twitter at twitter.com/cdnoysterwine.

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For more information on the Canadian Wine Competition contact:
Claire Sear

Oliver Osoyoos Oyster Festival
claire@sear.ca                                                                                        www.oooysterfestival.com/
ph: 250.878-9693                                                                                   twitter.com/cdnoysterwine