WineAlign - Awards - 2026 NWAC Results

Results of the 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada

The 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada wrapped up in June in Niagara, Ontario. Founded by Canadian wine nuts David Lawrason and Anthony Gismondi, ‘The Nationals’ are the largest and most respected Canadian wine competition. In total, 21 judges from across Canada, including one judge from California and one from England, tasted 1,800 entries from 250 Canadian wineries.

“After 26 years, the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada is the benchmark for Canadian wine competitions and is considered by our judges to be among the best-run competitions in the world. It takes a village (33 volunteers) to put on the awards each year, and it begins with a two-day, detailed, choreographed setup in the all-important back room, where some 1,800 entries are placed and labeled at their respective tables in their flights, in the order they will be served over the first three days.

Once on the table, every wine label is checked against a flight sheet printout, and each bottle is tagged with a flight number and an order number to ensure it goes to the right panel, in the right order, at the right temperature, and at the right time. The meticulous two-day setup often takes longer than most competitions take from start to finish. The wines are served in high-quality glassware, each tagged with the flight number and its position in the flight. It’s the final check before any wine is tasted blind.

Over the next five days, 21 highly experienced judges — 10 women and 11 men — worked in panels of three or four to taste every wine. Once the first round was complete, we began again, building second-round flights with 25 to 30 percent of the top-scoring wines, which were then re-tasted over two days by panels of five judges. By the end, each judge assessed more than 400 wines, and while more than 9,000 glasses were washed and polished, only six were broken.

We hope you enjoy the following results as much as we did tasting all the medal-winning wines.” – Anthony Gismondi, Co-Chair

Co-Chairs David Lawrason and Anthony Gismondi

We’d like to thank the judges for bringing their talent, skill and passion to the process. We know there is nowhere they would rather be that week, but it is still a formidable task that requires endurance and concentration. It also requires a wealth of tasting experience accumulated over years of tasting wines from around the globe that informs virtually every decision they make. You don’t just walk into the job, although many ask if they can.

In addition to the individual medal winners, we have also awarded Winery of the Year, Best Performing Small Winery, Top 25 Wineries in Canada, Top 10 Ontario Wineries, Top 10 BC Wineries, and Top 10 Small Wineries.

You can also review the Medal Winners by Category presented in alphabetical order (see below). Each medal winning wine is linked to its individual page on WineAlign. Platinum, Gold and Silver wines will also have reviews from individual judges.

Click on the medallions to see the winners: