Results of the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)

Icewine

Category Overview by Judge Treve Ring

Though the folklore of icewine suggests that its first production in 18th century Germany was accidental, it is an indisputable fact that Icewine is now a Canadian wine icon, and our country is recognized as the world leader in its production.

(Jump straight to the medal winners.)

Ever since Hainle Vineyards and Estate Winery in Peachland produced the country’s first Icewine in 1974, the process of making wine from frozen marbles has been one that many True North vintners have embraced. As expected, Niagara led the medals in all colours, though the Okanagan Valley struck some high scoring wines as well. Also no surprise is that Riesling ruled the podium, but it was nice to see Pinot Gris, Vidal, and Cabernet Franc also reach Gold this year.

It’s certainly not sugar that the judges are looking for (that’s a given with icewine), but balance. The best examples achieved enough acidity to meet and mellow the unctuous sweetness, creating wines that will be as long lasting in the bottle as they remain on the palate.

Congratulations to Megalomaniac 2017 Coldhearted Riesling Icewine for winning the inaugural Best Icewine of the Year award. Judges have called this top-scoring Icewine “irrisistibly fragrant” and “purely delightful, if not the most concentrated of them all.”

And the winners are…

Megalomaniac 2017 Coldhearted Riesling Icewine , Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2017 Cabernet Franc Icewine, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2017 Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Okanagan Estate Series 2017 Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Magnotta 2018 Riesling Icewine Limited Edition, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Peller Estates 2017 Andrew Peller Signature Series Riesling Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Reif Estate 2017 Grand Reserve Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Whistler 2017 Pinot Gris Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Henry of Pelham 2017 Riesling Icewine , Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2017 Gold Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2017 Riesling Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2018 Reserve Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2017 Dean’s List Prodigy Icewine, St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Nk’Mip Cellars 2018 Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Peller Estates 2017 Andrew Peller Signature Series Oak Aged Vidal Blanc Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Peller Estates 2017 Andrew Peller Signature Series Vidal Blanc Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Redstone 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Trius 2017 Showcase Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Niagara Estate 2017 Sparkling Cabernet Franc Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2017 Reserve Cabernet Franc Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Lakeview Cellars 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Magnotta Signature Collection 2017 Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2017 Merlot Icewine, British Columbia
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2017 Riesling Icewine, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate 2017 Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stag’s Hollow Winery 2017 Vidal Icewine Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stratus 2018 Icewine Red , Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Volcanic Hills 2017 Chardonnay Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Wayne Gretzky 2017 Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario