Results from the 2026 Nationals – Rosé

Announcing the Results from the 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada

The 2026 Nationals took place in Niagara, Ontario from June 12th to 18th. Today, we are pleased to announce the winners in the Rosé, Orange Wines and Pinot Gris/Grigio categories. Category results will be rolling out throughout the rest of July, concluding with the Winery of the Year announcement on July 31st. We hope that you will stay tuned to follow the results!

Rosé

Category Overview by Michael Godel

Go straight to the winners.

You may say, “these days, everyone makes a Rosé,” and you would not be wrong, but supply is the meeting of a simple demand. Rosé consumption continues its ostensible, and limitless rise. Not only is there more Rosé being produced than ever before, but the styles, shapes and sizes are more varied than at any time in the short (Canadian) history of rosy wines bequeathed of their brief skin-contact kiss. Pinks manifest a delicate balancing act between fruit and acid, science and art, breadth and depth. Their diversification is a factor of these positive elements, to the benefit of all. Today there is a Rosé to fit every need, with a wide variety of options for every person in a diverse group to find something of interest, and a match to their personal taste. Trends are transforming into structural shifts, and the judging panels were keenly aware of further deepening shades of colour, but also more consequence noted in wines of increased weight and structure.

Rosé announced its presence at the 2026 NWACs with 8.6 percent of the total wines entered. The 3 Gold, 41 Silver and 51 Bronze medals combined for 7.6 percent of the awarded hardware, or 1.6, 8.1 and 9.6 in the three (non-Platinum) tiers. All three golds spoke to judges as examples of Okanagan Valley excellence, from three distinct growing areas: Summerland Bench, Similkameen Valley, and Black Sage Bench. In fact B.C. Rosé performed well from Lillooet (Fraser Canyon) and the Fraser Valley, through Oliver and the South Okanagan, to Okanagan Falls, Skaha and Naramata Benches, West Kelowna and East Kelowna Slopes. Flavour development from (especially) Okanagan Valley vineyards simply can’t be metered or rivalled anywhere else in Canada, and this is what consumers want most. Ontario Rosé showed well from the Niagara flats by the village and lakeshore, also from escarpment benches, if less so from Prince Edward County. In the end, 70 percent of silvers were given to B.C. wines, with one outlier awarded to a Rosé from Québec. The numbers were closer at the Bronze tier, where B.C. held at 60 percent, a second Québec Rosé received some love, along with two from PEC.

And the winners are…

NWAC 2026 Partners: