CWA 2010: Red Single Varieties

(24 entries, 18 medals)

This category assembled new, experimental, single varietal wines. Gamay was tasted separately, but is included here for reporting purposes, as it still does not have traction in Canada despite being a well-suited variety climatically. The low turnout and disparate gamay styles frustrated the judges. “Let gamay’s fruit show,” urged Bill Zacharkiw. Judges were stoked, however, about others, especially two grapes originating in southwest France. Tannat fuelled great enthusiasm and earned a gold for Twisted Tree, as did CedarCreek’s Platinum Malbec. Almost all wines that earned medals were from B.C., which, combined with the high medal ratio, should encourage Okanagan winemakers to keep experimenting.

Gold

CedarCreek 2008 Platinum Malbec, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $55

Twisted Tree 2007 Tannat, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

Silver

Cassini Cellars 2008 Malbec, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $29

Twisted Tree 2008 Carmenère, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25

Desert Hills 2009 Gamay, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Sandhill 2007 Phantom Creek Vineyard Small Lots Malbec, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

The View Winery 2008 Pinotage, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Bronze

Twisted Tree 2008 Tempranillo, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $28

Garry Oaks 2008 ZETA Zweigelt, Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia    $25

Twisted Tree 2008 Tannat, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $28

Robin Ridge 2008 Gamay, Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $20

Arrowleaf 2008 Zweigelt, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $18

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2007 Organic Zweigelt, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

Sandhill 2008 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Gamay Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

Sandhill 2007 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Small Lots Barbera, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Mt. Boucherie 2009 Estate Collection Gamay, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $15

Sandhill 2007 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Small Lots Sangiovese, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Huff Estates 2008 Reserve Gamay, Ontario     $25

Hillside Estate 2008 Pinotage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25