Ten wines have been named winners of 2011 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in BC Wines. They were chosen from among this year’s total entries of 309 wines from 83 wineries across the province.
This is the ninth year of the Awards program, begun in 2003 by then Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo. It honours excellence in wines made 100 per cent from grapes grown and processed in the province.
Any BC winery can enter. A tasting panel of wine critics and journalists is held in the middle of June. The panel selects wines they feel have achieved “excellence”. Winners are announced in early July. His Honour, The Honourable Steven Point visited the winning wineries at the end of July to present the Awards. Winning wines are entitled to use the Lieutenant Governor’s Award logo for advertising.
This year’s winners are:
- Howling Bluff Estate Winery – 2009 Pinot Noir
- Laughing Stock Vineyards – 2010 Pinot Gris
- Mt. Lehman Winery – 2010 Viognier Reserve
- Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery – 2008 Syrah
- Red Rooster Winery – 2008 Meritage
- Sandhill – 2009 Small Lots Syrah
- St. Hubertus Estate Winery & Oak Bay Vineyard – 2009 Dry Riesling
- Stoneboat Vineyards – 2009 Pinot Noir
- Sumac Ridge Estate Winery – 2006 Steller’s Jay Brut
- Volcanic Hills Estate Winery – 2010 Rosé
- Wild Goose Vineyards & Winery – 2010 Mystic River Pinot Blanc
