Results of the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)

Riesling

Category Overview by judge John Szabo MS

Canada’s proficiency with, and refinement of riesling continues with relentless progress. In 2022, at least by the numbers, it is the single most successful category overall, with 96 medal winners. The most impressive statistic, however, is the six platinum medals awarded this year, two more than any other category (pinot, chardonnay and syrah each garnered four platinum medals), and an NWAC category record. Compare that to just one riesling platinum awarded in both 2021 and 2019. Now add in the 23 gold medals this year, and it’s abundantly clear that Canada does riesling really, really well, and is getting even more confident with the grape.

(Jump straight to the medal winners.)

The other unmatchable aspect of the riesling category is value, or more poignantly, pleasure for money. The average price of a bottle across all 96 medal winners comes in at $27.63. And if you’re thinking that the bronze medal-winning wines in the mix bring down that average price, check this out: the average price for the six platinum rieslings is less, at just $27.41. (The 23 gold winners averaged $27.86 per bottle). While the most expensive Canadian rieslings now reach $50, that still means there are plenty of medal/pleasure-worthy wines under $20, and even under $15. That’s exciting.

Regarding the geographical distribution of excellence, this year’s results prove once again that Ontario and BC run neck and neck with the variety. Canada’s two largest winemaking provinces earned an even three platinums apiece, while Ontario just nips the post with 12 of the 23 gold medals. Digging slightly deeper, it was clear again the hot spot for riesling in BC is the northern Okanagan Valley around Kelowna, and in Ontario along the Niagara Escarpment in the so-called “Bench” sub-regions, with, of course, a handful of notable exceptions worth a detour.

All in all, no big surprises in the riesling category in 2022, just continued clarity on the best sites, and confirmation of the overall excellence and value on offer. Riesling lovers, rejoice!

And the winners are…

Flat Rock Cellars 2020 Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Four Shadows 2021 Riesling Classic, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kitsch 2019 Esther’s Block Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Redstone 2019 Bistro Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Storm Haven 2020 Riesling Gibson-Block 3, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Vieni 2020 Riesling, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

CedarCreek 2020 Aspect Collection Block 3 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
CedarCreek Platinum 2021 Home Block Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Fielding 2019 Estate Bottled Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fielding 2019 Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
La Frenz 2021 Riesling Cl. 49 Rockyfeller Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Megalomaniac 2020 Narcissist Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Mission Hill 2021 Reserve Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Monte Creek 2021 Living Land Riesling, British Columbia
Organized Crime 2019 Wild Ferment Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Peller Estates Niagara 2020 Andrew Peller Signature Series Riesling, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Ravine Vineyard 2021 Small Batch Riesling, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Redstone 2019 Brickyard Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Redstone 2019 The Club Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
SpearHead 2020 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Storm Haven 2020 Gold Digger Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tantalus 2019 Old Vines Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tantalus 2021 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tawse 2019 Riesling Quarry Road Vineyard, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2019 Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Thirty Bench 2019 Small Lot Riesling Triangle Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Thirty Bench 2019 Small Lot Riesling Wood Post Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Thirty Bench 2020 Small Lot Riesling Steel Post Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Trius 2020 Showcase Riesling Ghost Creek Vineyard, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

180 Estate Winery 2020 Riesling Mia Cara Vineyard, Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
2027 Cellars 2019 Riesling Wismer Vineyard FoxCroft Block, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Charles Baker 2020 Riesling B-Side, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Charles Baker 2020 Riesling Ivan Vineyard, Ontario
Creekside 2019 Breakaway Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Dirty Laundry 2021 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
EauVivre 2021 Riesling, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Featherstone 2021 Old Vines Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Harper’s Trail 2020 Silver Mane Block Riesling Thadd Springs Vineyard, Thompson, British Columbia
Jackson-Triggs Niagara 2020 Grand Reserve Riesling, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
La Frenz 2021 Riesling Cl. 21B Freedom 75 Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Liber Farm 2021 Rebil Riesling, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Mayhem 2021 Riesling, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2020 Balance Dry Riesling, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Palatine Hills 2021 Wild & Free Riesling, Ontario
Rivière du Chêne 2021 La Cantina Vallée d’Oka Riesling, Quebec
Silhouette 2021 The Ridge Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Storm Haven 2020 Riesling Dry, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Strewn 2019 Terroir Riesling, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Synchromesh 2021 Dry Riesling Thorny Vines Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Synchromesh 2021 Riesling Long’s View Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Synchromesh 2021 Riesling Storm Haven Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tawse 2019 Riesling Carly’s Block, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
The Gallery 2021 Between Friends Riesling, British Columbia
Thirty Bench 2020 Small Lot Riesling Wild Cask, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Thirty Bench 2020 Winemaker’s Blend Riesling, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Upper Bench 2021 Riesling, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Van Westen 2021 Viscous, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

13th Street 2020 Riesling June’s Vineyard, Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
50th Parallel 2021 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Big Head Wines 2019 RAW Riesling Dim Vineyards, Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Byland 2021 Riesling, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Charles Baker 2019 Riesling Picone Vineyard, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Charles Baker 2020 Riesling Picone Vineyard, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Chronos 2020 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Culmina 2021 N° 018 Süsser Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
De Simone 2019 Riesling, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fort Berens 2021 Riesling, British Columbia
Four Shadows 2021 Riesling Dry, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Frind 2020 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Gaspereau 2021 Riesling, Nova Scotia
Hainle 2021 Cheers, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Hidden Bench 2020 Riesling Felseck Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2019 Grand Reserve Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Leaning Post 2019 Riesling Wismer-Foxcroft Vineyard, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Lunessence 2021 ESV Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Magnotta 2020 Riesling Venture Series, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Marynissen 2020 Heritage Collection Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Moraine 2020 Reserve Riesling, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Moraine 2020 Riesling, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nk’Mip Cellars 2020 Qwam Qwmt Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Peak Cellars 2020 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate 2021 Clone 49 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Ravine Vineyard 2021 Reserve Patricia’s Block Riesling, St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Red Rooster 2021 Riesling, British Columbia
Rollingdale 2021 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Storm Haven 2020 Boulders Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stratus 2021 Riesling, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Strewn 2020 Riesling Lively, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Synchromesh 2021 Riesling Thorny Vines Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tawse 2019 Riesling Limestone Ridge North, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2020 Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tightrope 2021 Riesling Fleet Road Vineyard, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Westcott 2020 Butlers’ Grant Riesling, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario