Results of the 2024 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)
Other Gewürztraminer and Viognier
Category Overview by Judge John Szabo MS
(Jump straight to the medal winners.)
Viognier and Gewürztraminer remain minor varieties on the Canadian wine scene, representing 1.6% and 1.1% of entries in the 2024 NWACs respectively.
Both grapes are particularly anecdotal in Ontario, where gewürztraminer accounted for just 2% of total production in 2023, while viognier is so rare as to be lumped into the “other” category in the VQA’s annual report. In B.C., on the other hand, with the Okanagan’s almost Alsace-like sunny, dry climate, Gewürztraminer places a respectable 4th among white varieties for tonnage harvested in 2023 (behind pinot gris, chardonnay and riesling). Viognier sits in ninth position alongside other Rhône varieties suitable to the West Coast’s unique conditions.
Viognier earned more medals overall, 19 versus just eight for gewürztraminer, though no golds, with three silver and the rest bronze, reflecting the judges’ tepid feelings towards the category even though the medals-to-entries ratio was still positive at +0.4%. Unenthusiastic comments centered around the variety’s propensity to turn flabby and present simple fruit salad flavours, also occasionally over-enthusiastic use of oak.
The best of these, all from BC – Rainmaker Wines 2021 Viognier Rattlesnake Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia ($34.50), Church & State Wines 2020 Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia ($22.49) and Burrowing Owl 2021 Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia ($40.00) – all possessed what judges considered typicity, that is, unctuous but balanced orchard fruit flavours and judicious use of wood.
Gewürztraminer earned fewer medals proportionately than viognier with a negative medals-to-entries ratio of -0.2%, and a total of eight. Yet three of these were gold medals: Hillside Winery 2023 Gewurztraminer, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia ($23.00), Meyer 2022 Gewurztraminer McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia ($19.22), and an eyebrow raising value, Magnotta 2022 Gewurztraminer Venture Series, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario ($14.95).
And the winners are…
Hillside Winery 2023 Gewurztraminer, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Magnotta 2022 Gewurztraminer Venture Series, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Meyer 2022 Gewurztraminer McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Bench 1775 2021 Bench 1775 Gewürztraminer, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Burrowing Owl 2021 Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Church & State Wines 2020 Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Rainmaker Wines 2021 Viognier Rattlesnake Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Township 7 2021 Benchmark Series Gewürztraminer, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
13th Street Winery 2023 Viognier, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Big Head Wines 2021 Viognier, Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Black Bank Hill 2021 Viognier, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Blasted Church 2022 Small Blessings Bible Thumper, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Blasted Church 2023 Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Bordertown 2023 Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Chaberton Estate Winery 2023 Gewürztraminer, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Country Vines 2022 Small Batch Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Deep Roots 2022 Viognier, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Malivoire 2023 Stouck Viognier, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
North 42 Degrees 2023 Gewurztraminer, Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario
Redstone Winery 2023 Viognier Redfoot Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Strewn 2023 Terroir Viognier, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Sumac Ridge 2023 Private Reserve Gewurztraminer, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tightrope 2023 Viognier Fleet Road Vineyard, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tinhorn Creek 2022 Reserve Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Van Westen 2023 Viognier, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
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