Results from the 2024 Nationals – Skin Fermented Whites (Orange Wines)

Announcing the Results from the 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada

The 2024 Nationals took place in Niagara Falls from June 21st to 25th. Today, we are pleased to announce the winners in the Skin Fermented Whites (Orange Wines) category. Category results will be rolling out throughout the rest of July, with the final Platinum, Best Performing Small Winery, and Winery of the Year announcements at the end of the month. We hope that you will stay tuned to follow the results!

We’ve asked a few of our judges to summarize their impressions of each category. Today we are pleased to present the Skin Fermented Whites (Orange Wines) winners.

Skin Fermented Whites (Orange Wines)

Category Overview by Judge Jacky Blisson, MW

The jury is still out on exactly what constitutes a skin contact white wine. How long of a contact period is necessary to qualify? What grape varieties work best? Can we still call them “orange wine” or is that term now passé? After all, skin contact whites range so widely in colour and style.

If this year’s medalists tell us anything, it is that the category is still all about experimentation, and the results are exciting. Silver medal winner, Inniskillin’s Discovery Series P3 is a blend of white and red varieties, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Petit Verdot, with over a week on skins giving it a light salmon colour, vivid fruit, and a gentle phenolic grip.

Niagara’s popular Vidal grape responds very well to skin contact, bringing texture and complexity to its exuberant, tropical fruit profile. It is therefore no surprise that several noteworthy entries were Vidal based. The aromatic Gewürztraminer, with its subtly oily mouthfeel, can also benefit from a subtle tannic framework, and there were some great entries here too.

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