Vancouver Wine Information | Wine Vancouver BC Information

Vancouver magazine’s 2009 International Wine Competition drew over 700 entries from across the winemaking world. The judges elected 100 bottles in 10 categories that represented best value; here are the British Columbians that came out on top.

Photography by John Sinal

• ROSE
	Church & State Church Mouse Cabernet Blanc 2007 $20 +021584 Brisk, refreshing rosé that looks and tastes like pink grapefruit juice. Amazingly, it’s 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon — which only adds to the fun.
• SPARKLING
	Summerhill Cipes Brut $24.95 +314419 Otherworldly B.C. fizz.
• LIGHT WHITE
	Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Blanc 2007 $14.99 +300301 Crisp, clean, and citrusy: B.C. all over.
	Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Gris 2007 $16.99 +563981 Gorgeous peachy Okanagan fruit.
	See Ya Later Ranch Gewurztraminer 2007 $16.99 +868067 Lively Gewurz with a fresh lime finish.
	Wild Goose Gewurztraminer 2007 $18.95 +414748 Textbook savoury South Okanagan Gewurz.
	Road 13 Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2007 $18.99 +450890 Serious Chenin from B.C.’s oldest vinifera vines.
• MEDIUM WHITE
	Wild Goose Pinot Gris 2007 $18.95 +536227 Pure Okanagan fruit — peaches, pears, and apples.
	Sumac Ridge Black Sage Vineyard Meritage (White) 2007 $24.99 +434977 Less oaky than past vintages — and better for it.
• RICH WHITE
	Peller Private Reserve Chardonnay 2007 $17.99 +618298 Great value from an Okanagan winery to watch.
	Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2006 $19.99 +572065 Traditional rich, buttery, toasty Chard.
	CedarCreek Estate Select Chardonnay 2006 $22 +607200 Seriously complex Chard at an excellent price.
	Church & State Gravelbourg Vineyard Chardonnay 2006 $25 +861781 Beautifully balanced fruit, earth, and oak.
• LIGHT RED
	See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir 2006 $22.99 +075267 B.C. Pinot with poise.
	CedarCreek Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 $40 +585711 Velvety rich B.C. Pinot.
	Quails’ Gate Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 $45 +639658 Cool-climate Pinot par excellence.
• MEDIUM RED
	Red Rooster Reserve Merlot 2006 $34.99 +208330 Fresh claret-like cool-climate Merlot.
	Quinta Ferreira Obra Prima 2006 $35 +851618 Funky full-throttle red from an Okanagan newcomer.
• RICH RED
	Sumac Ridge Black Sage Vineyard Merlot 2005 $19.99 +593053 Big gulp of sagey-dusty B.C. Merlot.
	Inniskillin Okanagan Dark Horse Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $24.99 +989376 Impressive black currant, herbal, earthy aromas.
	Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Meritage 2005 $25.99 +984097 Very rich mocha, coffee, smoky, plummy fruit.
	Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Merlot 2005 $25.99 +572040 Gobs of brambly coffee-mocha flavour.
	Road 13 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $27.99 +897629 Very special South Okanagan Cabernet.
	Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Zinfandel 2006 $29.99 +584433 Classic Zin flavours, classic B.C. freshness.
	See Ya Later Ranch Ping 2006 $29.99 +220145 Intriguing mix of coffee, cherry, and smoky / leathery flavours.
	Church & State Coyote Bowl Syrah 2006 $30 +646190 Very serious smoky, leathery Syrah.
	Jackson-Triggs Okanagan SunRock Shiraz 2005 $33.99 +987818 Memorize this: a world classic in the making.
	Nk’Mip Qwam Qwmt Syrah 2006 $34.99 +984773 Dusty, herbal, smoky desert-grown Syrah.
	CedarCreek Estate Select Syrah 2006 $35 +417949 Seamless, sleek, dense, dark, and rich.
	CedarCreek Platinum Reserve Merlot 2006 $40 +573683 Astonishing cool-climate Merlot.
	CedarCreek Platinum Reserve Meritage 2006 $45 +077453 Elegant, beautifully structured, claret-like B.C. red.
• DESSERT WINE
	Nk’Mip Qwam Qwmt Riesling Ice Wine 2007 $60 +988535 This is the essence of Riesling. Super-concentrated dried-apricot flavour; miraculously, not cloyingly sweet.
• FORTIFIED
	Elephant Island Orchard Framboise 2007 $19.90 +734277 Magical essence-of-raspberry flavour.

Visit Vanmag.com for complete results of Vancouver magazine’s 2009 International Wine Competition