December 8 Weekly Wine News Roundup

December 8, 2009

Wine awards are making news this week, as the outcome of a couple competitions were announced.

The 10th Annual Wine Press Northwest Platinum Judging is a competition between wineries of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and BC. Wineries are invited to enter wines that have already won gold medals. The panel then tastes the gold medal wines against each other to determine who will win Platinum. In order to get the award, three of the four judges must agree, if a wine goes four for four, it gets a Double Platinum award.

JoieFarm cleaned up in this competition, with their 2008 Riesling and their 2008 A Noble Blend finishing 1st and 2nd overall. The Riesling took the “Best of the Best” title as well.

Additionally, five BC wineries won three Platinum’s each:

  • Domaine de Chaberton of Langley, B.C. (2008 Canoe Cove North Bluff White – Double Platinum; 2008 Bacchus – Platinum; 2006 Canoe Cove Shiraz – Platinum)
  • Gehringer Brothers of Oliver, B.C. (2008 Private Reserve Riesling – Platinum; 2008 Minus Nine Ehrenfelser Ice Wine – Platinum; 2008 Schonburger-Gewurztraminer – Platinum)
  • Inniskillin Okanagan of Oliver, B.C. (2007 Discovery Series Tempranillo Ice Wine  – Platinum; 2007 Riesling Ice Wine – Platinum; 2007 Discovery Series Malbec – Platinum)
  • Jackson-Triggs of Oliver, B.C. (2006 Proprietors’ Reserve Shiraz – Platinum; 2007 Proprietors’ Reserve Sauvignon Blanc – Platinum; 2007 Grand Reserve Riesling Ice Wine – Platinum)
  • Wild Goose of Okanagan Falls, B.C. (2008 Mystic River Pinot Gris Double Platinum and top Pinot Gris; 2008 Pinot Gris – Platinum; 2008 Mystic River Gewurztraminer – Platinum)

Wine Access magazine’s December issue announced its top 101 Favorite Wines for 2009. Six BC wines made the list:

  • Sandhill 2007 Phantom Creek Vineyard Small Lots Program Syrah (#52)
  • Sandhill2007 Osprey Ridge Vineyard Small Lots Program Viognier
    (#70)
  • Quails’ Gate Winery 2007 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay (#71)
  • Gehringer Brothers 2008 Minus 9 Ehrenfelser Ice Wine (#79)
  • Church & State 2007 Hollenbach Family Vineyard Pinot Noir (#82)
  • Stag’s Hollow 2008 Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon (#86)

Outside of the competitions, there was a lot written about wines this week. Anthony Gismondi made some recommendations for hostess gift wines in the Vancouver Sun. James Nevison, the Province‘s Wine Guy, recommends a trio of cheap and cheerful party wines for the holiday party season.

Tim Pawsey admires the art of the wine label in his column in the Vancouver Courier, while Jurgen Gothe treats himself to some Beaujolais in the Uncorked column of the Straight. David Scholefield chooses Heggies Chardonnay 2007 this week in Vancouver Magazine and John Schreiner samples a line up of Blue Mountain wines at Salt in Vancouver’s Gastown.

Wondering what the ladies of wine are up to? On her blog, Joanne Sasvari wonders about some women’s taste in bevvies. Amy Rosen tries to find out whether marketing-driven wines will corner the chick wine market. A story from the Montreal Gazette looks into what women want in wine.

Posted by Sheila Whittaker | Filed Under Blog 

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