Results from the 2026 Nationals – Syrah

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 Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Riesling 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!

Syrah

Category Overview by Janet Dorozynksi, PhD, DipWSET

Go straight to the winners.

Syrah/Shiraz: Power Meets Precision

Syrah, as it is now largely called in Canada, has established itself as one of the country’s most compelling premium red wine categories. A serious cool-climate variety, it has found its strongest expressions in British Columbia’s South Okanagan and Similkameen valleys, along with a handful of select sites in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula.

In British Columbia, Syrah has become one of the province’s flagship red grape varieties. However, the category remains very much in recovery mode following the unprecedented winter freeze events of December 2022 and January 2024. Syrah was among the hardest-hit varieties, as it is generally less cold-hardy than red vinifera grapes such as Cabernet Franc and Gamay. While these events have forced growers and wineries to reassess vineyard locations and cold-risk mitigation strategies, many remain convinced that Syrah has a bright future in British Columbia. Increasingly, that future will depend on thoughtful site selection and vineyard management practices that help mitigate the risks posed by future volatile winter conditions.

Despite these challenges, the results from this year’s National Wine Awards of Canada demonstrate the resilience and strength of the category. Fifty entries were received from British Columbia and Ontario, resulting in two Platinum, 10 Gold, 21 Silver, and seven Bronze medals. The category accounted for 3.0% of all entries and 3.2% of all medals awarded, reinforcing both its strong performance, quality and importance within the Canadian wine landscape. British Columbia producers captured the lion’s share of the medals, although Ontario also delivered a strong performance, with wines from the Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County, and Lake Erie North Shore earning nearly a quarter of all medals awarded.

This year’s medal winners include an impressive roster of producers, many of them repeat winners at the Nationals. The strong performance of both established icons and emerging producers suggests that the category is not only maintaining its quality but continuing to evolve in exciting ways. The best examples clearly express both regional identity and cool-climate character, combining freshness, vibrant acidity, spice, and pure red and dark fruit flavours with balance and precision rather than excessive ripeness, alcohol, or sheer power.

One of the most significant trends evident among this year’s medal winners is the continued shift away from heavily extracted and heavily oaked styles toward more vineyard and single-vineyard expressions. This allows Syrah’s peppery, floral, and savoury characteristics to shine while complementing the grape’s natural richness and texture.

The results reinforce what many Canadian wine enthusiasts already know: Syrah has become one of the country’s most internationally competitive red wine varieties, capable of producing wines that combine Rhône-like complexity with a Canadian sense of place.

And the winners are…