Results of the 2017 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)

Sparkling

Intro by Treve Ring

It’s true that Champagne is the gold standard of sparkling wines, but it’s not necessary to fill your flute with gold, and pay that price, to enjoy a spectacular sparkling wine. There are many situations when a fresh, bright and easy frizzante wine will win out over a serious, traditional-method sparkling. Fortunately, in Canada we can, and do, produce excellent wines of all styles, from all grapes and for all purposes.

Rooted in cool, Canada has emerged an indie darling of sparkling wine (we do share the 49th parallel with Champagne, after all). Within Canada, sparkling wine sales outpace total wine sales at +7.1% vs +4.7%. That said, Canadian-made sparkling wines account for 3-4% share of all Canadian wine, a clear sign (to me at least) that the potential future for sparkling wine is sparkling.

There are nearly 100 producers from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia making sparkling wine, across all styles. Our top three sparkling wines at NWAC17 come from three very distinct geographical regions, from Nova Scotia, to Ontario, to BC. Worthy to note – those same top three wines are all blanc de blancs, combining structure, acidity and pure fruit to craft three very different, unique, and highly drinkable wines.

For more information on Canadian sparkling wines, read David Lawrason’s recently published Canadian Wine Report.

Bench 1775 2012 Blanc de Blancs, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Benjamin Bridge 2009 Méthode Classique Blanc de Blancs, Nova Scotia
Henry of Pelham 2012 Cuvée Catharine Blanc de Blanc ‘Carte Blanche’, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Backyard Vineyards N/V Blanc de Noir Brut, Fraser Valley, British Columbia
Benjamin Bridge 2012 Méthode Classique Rosé, Nova Scotia
Fitzpatrick 2013 Fitz Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
L’Acadie 2015 Vintage Cuvée Rosé Organic, Nova Scotia
Noble Ridge 2012 The One Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Redstone 2015 Sparkling Rosé, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Road 13 Vineyards 2013 Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Blanc de Blanc 2010, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Trius N/V Brut Rose, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Blasted Church 2012 OMG, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Blomidon 2012 Cuvée L’Acadie, Nova Scotia
Domaine Bergeville le Rosé Brut, Quebec
JoieFarm 2016 Quotidien Brut , Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kacaba 2016 Effervescence, Ontario
L’Acadie 2015 Vintage Cuvée Organic, Nova Scotia
Maverick Ella Brut Rose, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Meyer NV Méthode Traditionnelle Extra Brut , Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Niagara College Teaching Winery N/V Balance Brut, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Peller Estates Niagara N/V Ice Cuvee Rose, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Salt Spring Winery 2013 Karma Salt Spring Vineyard, Gulf Islands, British Columbia
See Ya Later Ranch N/V Sparkling Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut Rose N/V, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tawse N/V Spark, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

13th Street Winery N/V Cuvée Rosé Brut, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Arrowleaf 2016 Wildblume, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Daydreamer Marcus Ansems Sparkling Shiraz 2014, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Evolve Cellars N/V Pink Effervescence, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Fitzpatrick 2012 Fitz Brut  , Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Gray Monk 2014 Odyssey White Brut, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Jackson-Triggs Niagara 2014 Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan NV Reserve Method Classique, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lightfoot & Wolfville 2013 Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut, Nova Scotia
Redstone 2013 Sparkling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut N/V, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tawse 2011 Blanc de Noirs Laundry Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2015 Sparkling Rosé Quarry Road Vineyard, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Trius N/V Brut, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Unsworth 2014 Cuvee De L’ile, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Vignoble Ste-Petronille 2014 Brut Nature, Quebec