Sparkling – Medal Winners from NWAC 2022
Announcing the Results from the 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada
The 21st running of the National Wine Awards of Canada wrapped up on June 23 in Niagara. Category results will be rolling out throughout the rest of July, with the final Platinum, Best Performing Small Winery, and Winery of the Year announcements coming at the end of this month. We hope you will stay tuned to follow the results and become engaged in anticipating the final results.
We’ve asked a few of our judges to summarize their impressions of each category. Today we present Sparkling:
Opening with a Pop – Sparkling
Category Overview by Judge Treve Ring
Recent statistics show that sparkling wine consumption is rapidly rising in Canada, both by value and volume. With 200+ wineries producing a diverse range of sparkling across the country, consumers have a greater selection of quality homegrown sparkling than ever before.
This was clearly evident in this year’s awards, with two dozen outstanding Gold Medals, and one exemplary Platinum wine that impressed the judges time and time again over the competition. Niagara Peninsula’s 13th Street 2015 Premier Cuvée landed atop the fizz podium this year, though wines from Vancouver Island right across to Nova Scotia struck Gold (while Quebec represented close behind with Silver). The joy, for me, in judging this category is that every year I come across new cuvées, new winemakers, and new expressions of sparkling wine that impress. Though not surprising to see classic Champagne grapes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominating, it was telling to see lesser-known grapes in the medals, including hybrids, reflective of the vast diversity of this country’s terroirs and climates.
It’s also impressive to see how many more producers are releasing traditional method sparkling wines, a major commitment of time and resources, and involving a great deal of commitment and knowledge.
Though we’re tasting all blind of course, it’s become increasingly easier to read where wines are from. BC sparkling tends to be pure, fruit-forward, and fresh, with more mid-weight to the palate; Ontario’s limestone helps create leaner, sharper fruit, often with more toast and edges; Nova Scotia’s high tones, soaring acidity and, sleek and buzzing baseline stand out. This is certainly an exciting category, and future, for Canadian wine.
Cheers!
