2010 Canadian Wine Awards Performance Report

The big news in our annual performance report is Ontario. The one-two finish of Tawse Winery and Inniskillin Wines ends nine straight years of the coveted Winery of the Year award residing in the west.

For the record, our performance report rates any winery entering six or more wines in the competition, automatically putting that producer in the running for the Wine Access Canadian Winery of the Year. The report was originally designed to help us assess each winery’s performance, but the results were so compelling, we decided to share them.

From a practical point of view, we know consumers are interested in a winery’s top wines, so the final calculation is done with each producer’s six top-scoring entries.

The performance score begins with the wine’s base score (out of 100 points) as awarded by the judges. Each wine then receives additional points, depending upon whether or not it was awarded a bronze, silver or gold medal.

Given the scarcity of gold medals handed out at the CWA, their value exceeds that of a silver medal; and the value of a silver medal exceeds that of a bronze.

What it comes down to is one of the most useful wine lists in the country, and a guide to which wines and wineries are at the top of the Canadian wine industry. (Anthony Gismondi)

1. Tawse Winery (Ontario)

Performance Score: 7,240.00

Submitted: 25 Gold: 5 Silver: 3 Bronze: 10

Tawse 2008 Robyn’s Block Chardonnay

Tawse 2008 Quarry Road Chardonnay

Tawse 2008 Wismer Lakeview Riesling

Tawse 2009 Riesling

Tawse 2008 Lauritzen Pinot Noir

2. Inniskillin Wines (Ontario)

Performance Score: 6,050.23

Submitted: 16 Gold: 4 Silver: 5 Bronze: 4

Inniskillin 2007 Cabernet Franc Icewine

Inniskillin 2008 Sparkling Vidal Icewine

Inniskillin 2008 Riesling Icewine

Inniskillin 2009 Winemaker’s Series Barrel Aged Pinot Gris

Inniskillin 2007 Reserve Series Cabernet Franc

3. Mission Hill Family Estate (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 4,840.36

Submitted: 23 Gold: 3 Silver: 6 Bronze: 11

Mission Hill 2007 Legacy Series Compendium

Mission Hill 2007 Legacy Series Quatrain

Mission Hill 2007 Select Lot Collection Syrah

Mission Hill 2008 Reserve Viognier

Mission Hill 2006 Select Lot Collection Riesling Icewine

4. Nk’Mip Cellars (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 4,833.58

Submitted: 19 Gold: 3 Silver: 5 Bronze: 9

Nk’Mip Cellars 2007 Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir

Nk’Mip Cellars 2007 Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon

Nk’Mip Cellars 2008 Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir

Nk’Mip Cellars 2008 Qwam Qwmt Meritage

Nk’Mip Cellars 2007 Qwam Qwmt Merlot

5. CedarCreek Estate Winery (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 3,676.44

Submitted: 18 Gold: 2 Silver: 6 Bronze: 8

CedarCreek 2007 Platinum Merlot

CedarCreek 2008 Platinum Malbec

CedarCreek 2008 Platinum Pinot Noir

CedarCreek 2008 Cabernet Merlot

CedarCreek 2007 Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon

6. Road 13 Vineyards (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 3,675.76

Submitted: 15 Gold: 2 Silver: 3 Bronze: 5

Road 13 2008 Jackpot Chardonnay

Road 13 2006 Fifth Element

Road 13 2009 Viognier Riesling Sauvignon Blanc

Road 13 2008 Rockpile

Road 13 2008 Pinot Noir

7. Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 3,675.46

Submitted: 19 Gold: 2 Silver: 7 Bronze: 8

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2007 SunRock Vineyard Shiraz

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2006 SunRock Vineyard Merlot

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2007 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2006 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Shiraz

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2007 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Riesling Icewine

8. Cassini Cellars (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 3,645.96

Submitted: 8 Gold: 2 Silver: 3 Bronze: 2

Cassini Cellars 2008 Syrah

Cassini Cellars 2007 Maximus

Cassini Cellars 2008 Malbec

Cassini Cellars 2008 Maximus

Cassini Cellars 2008 Nobilus Merlot

9. Lake Breeze Vineyards (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 2,485.49

Submitted: 10 Gold: 1 Silver: 5 Bronze: 4

Lake Breeze 2009 Bench White

Lake Breeze 2009 Pinot Gris

Lake Breeze 2007 Tempest

Lake Breeze 2009 Ehrenfelser

Lake Breeze 2009 Gewürztraminer

10. Sandhill Wines (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 2,485.21

Submitted: 20 Gold: 1 Silver: 5 Bronze: 7

Sandhill 2007 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Small Lots Single Block C8 Merlot

Sandhill 2008 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Chardonnay

Sandhill 2008 Phantom Creek Vineyard Small Lots Syrah

Sandhill 2009 King Family Vineyard Pinot Gris

Sandhill 2007 Phantom Creek Vineyard Small Lots Malbec

11. See Ya Later Ranch (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 2,479.92

Submitted: 11 Gold: 1 Silver: 4 Bronze: 4

See Ya Later Ranch 2008 Rover

See Ya Later Ranch 2009 Jimmy My Pal

See Ya Later Ranch 2007 Pinot Noir

See Ya Later Ranch 2009 Gewürztraminer

See Ya Later Ranch 2008 Chardonnay

12. Twisted Tree Vineyards & Winery (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 2,475.10

Submitted: 10 Gold: 1 Silver: 5 Bronze: 4

Twisted Tree 2007 Tannat

Twisted Tree 2008 Chardonnay

Twisted Tree 2008 Carmenère

Twisted Tree 2008 Syrah

Twisted Tree 2009 Viognier Roussanne

13. Henry of Pelham (Ontario)

Performance Score: 2,474.37

Submitted: 14 Gold: 1 Silver: 4 Bronze: 6

Henry of Pelham 2007 Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay

Henry of Pelham N/V Cuvée Catharine Brut

Henry of Pelham N/V Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut

Henry of Pelham 2007 Riesling Icewine

Henry of Pelham 2009 Sibling Rivalry White

14. Hillebrand Winery (Ontario)

Performance Score: 2,438.32

Submitted: 11 Gold: 1 Silver: 3 Bronze: 4

Hillebrand N/V Trius Brut

Hillebrand N/V Trius Brut Rosé

Hillebrand 2008 Showcase Vidal Icewine

Hillebrand 2008 OlivEIra Vineyard Showcase Chardonnay

Hillebrand 2008 Showcase Riesling Icewine

15. Flat Rock Cellars (Ontario)

Performance Score: 2,427.64

Submitted: 9 Gold: 1 Silver: 3 Bronze: 5

Flat Rock CELLARs 2009 Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling

Flat Rock CELLARs 2007 Reserve Chardonnay

Flat Rock CELLARs 2007 Rogue

Flat Rock CELLARs 2009 Twisted

Flat Rock CELLARs 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir

16. Vineland Estates Winery (Ontario)

Performance Score: 2,422.70

Submitted: 6 Gold: 1 Silver: 3 Bronze: 1

Vineland Estates 2008 Chenin Blanc

Vineland Estates 2008 St. Urban Riesling

Vineland Estates 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling

Vineland Estates 2007 Reserve Cabernet Merlot

Vineland Estates 2008 Dry Riesling

17. Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery (Ontario)

Performance Score: 2,377.48

Submitted: 9 Gold: 1 Silver: 2 Bronze: 5

Hidden Bench 2008 Rosomel Vineyard Nuit Blanche

Hidden Bench 2009 Riesling

Hidden Bench 2007 Locust Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir

Hidden Bench 2007 Tête de Cuvée Chardonnay

Hidden Bench 2007 Terroir Caché Meritage

18. Desert Hills Estate Winery (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 2,307.18

Submitted: 7 Gold: 1 Silver: 1 Bronze: 3

Desert Hills 2006 Select Syrah

Desert Hills 2009 Gamay

Desert Hills 2009 Gewürztraminer

Desert Hills 2007 Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Desert Hills 2007 Cabernet Merlot

19. Thornhaven Estates Winery (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 2,302.64

Submitted: 12 Gold: 1 Silver: 1 Bronze: 4

Thornhaven Estates 2009 Gewürztraminer

Thornhaven Estates 2008 Pinot Noir

Thornhaven Estates 2008 Merlot

Thornhaven Estates 2009 Pinot Gris

Thornhaven Estates 2008 Chardonnay

20. Blasted Church Vineyards (British Columbia)

Performance Score: 1,305.78

Submitted: 12 Gold: 0 Silver: 5 Bronze: 4

Blasted Church 2009 Chardonnay Musqué

Blasted Church 2007 Nothing Sacred

Blasted Church 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Blasted Church 2009 Hatfield’s Fuse

Blasted Church 2008 Merlot