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 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and No/Low Alcohol 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!
Cabernet Franc: A Canadian Classic Reaches New Heights
Few grape varieties are more closely associated with Canadian wine than Cabernet Franc, and this year’s NWAC results demonstrate exactly why. The category attracted 90 entries, making it one of the largest red wine classes in the competition. Judges awarded one Platinum, 16 Gold, 26 Silver, and 34 Bronze medals, among the highest success rates for any category. Cabernet Franc represented 5.3% of all entries but captured 6.2% of all medals awarded, a clear indication of both the depth and quality of the field.
The sole Platinum medal winner went to the Inniskillin 2023 Lament Farms Cabernet Franc from St. David’s Bench in Niagara, a powerful reminder of the variety’s affinity for Ontario. The Gold medal winners further demonstrated the strength of the category, with outstanding examples emerging from both Ontario and British Columbia. While Niagara remains a benchmark region, where moderate growing conditions allow Cabernet Franc to ripen consistently while retaining its hallmark freshness, floral aromatics, and vibrant acidity, the strong showing from the Okanagan Valley confirms British Columbia’s growing reputation for crafting increasingly refined and expressive examples.
Both established wineries and emerging producers were represented among the medal winners, underscoring the competitiveness and accessibility of the category. A notable trend this year was an emphasis on single-vineyard expressions, reserve bottlings, and minimal-intervention winemaking, that signal a growing focus on expressing site-specific character rather than relying primarily on oak influence or extraction.
The results reinforce Cabernet Franc’s position as one of Canada’s most important red grape varieties and some have argued our de facto signature red wine. The variety is particularly well suited to Canada’s climate, ripening earlier and more consistently than Cabernet Sauvignon, an important advantage in Canada’s shorter growing seasons. It is also generally more winter hardy than both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, allowing it to withstand Canadian conditions with greater reliability.
Just as importantly, Cabernet Franc excels at producing the style of wine that Canada does exceptionally well: wines that combine floral aromatics, fresh red and dark fruit flavours, herbal complexity, balanced acidity, moderate alcohol levels, elegance, and freshness. Its versatility further enhances its appeal, as it performs successfully as a single-varietal wine, in Bordeaux-style blends, as rosé, sparkling wine, and even Icewine.
For many years, Cabernet Franc was viewed as a supporting player rather than the star. Today, however, it is enjoying a well-deserved moment in the spotlight as Canadian producers and consumers alike have increasingly embraced Cabernet Franc as a standalone variety.
This year’s results suggest the category is not only maintaining its reputation but continuing to evolve. With consistently high medal rates, broad regional success, and growing stylistic sophistication, Cabernet Franc is producing some of the most distinct and compelling red wines in Canada today.
