In 2003, the then Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the Honourable Iona Campagnolo, consulted with wine industry professionals throughout the province to establish the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines. The awards program recognizes and honours excellence in wines made from 100% British Columbian grown grapes and produced within the province.

The annual competition, supported and primarily administered under the Government House Foundation, calls for entries at the end of March. There is no fee to enter a wine; however, each winery is limited to four entries. Three bottles of each entry are required and a tasting panel of wine critics/journalists is held in the middle of June. The panel selects eight to ten wines that, in their view, have achieved “excellence.” Winners are announced in July and the Awards are presented in August. Winning wines are entitled to use the Lieutenant Governor’s Award logo for advertising, based upon the Terms of Use Agreement provided.

Winners 2009

Bounty Cellars
2007 Pinot Blanc

Cedar Creek Estate Winery
2006 Platinum Reserve

Church & State Wines
2006 Syrah

Howling Bluff Estate Wines
2006 Pinot Noir

JoieFarm Wines
2007 Reserve Chardonnay
2008 Riesling

Peller Estates Winery
2007 Private Reserve Pinot Noir

Road 13 Vineyards
2006 Fifth Element Red Blend

Sandhill Wines
2007 Small Lots Syrah

See Ya Later Ranch
2008 Gewurztraminer

Stoneboat Vineyards
2007 Pinotage

Wild Goose Vineyards
2008 Pinot Gris