For Immediate Release
 
2008 Best of Varietal Wine Competition Results
Announced at the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival
 
The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society announced the results of the annual “Best of Varietal” at a special industry awards ceremony for the 2008 Best of Varietal Judging Competition sponsored by Metro Label, Richards Packaging and the Business Development Bank of Canada. A record 300 wines were entered into this year’s competition. The Best of Varietal Categories this year include: Chardonnay, Unoaked Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Sparkling, Pinot Noir, Open Table Red, Cabernet Franc, Open Table White, Red Meritage, Syrah/Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, White Meritage, Rose/Blush, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Late Harvest/Dessert. Riesling Icewine, Other Icewines and Fruit Wines.
 
The Best of Class of this year’s 2008 Best of Varietal Competition plus the finalists are:
                                 Winners
 
Chardonnay
Best of Class

Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2006 Black Sage Vineyard Chardonnay
Finalists
See Ya Later Ranch 2006 Chardonnay
Nk' Mip Cellars 2006 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay
Sandhill Wines 2006 Chardonnay
Mission Hill Family Estate 2006 Reserve Chardonnay
 
Unoaked Chardonnay
Best of Class
Calona Vineyards 2007 Artist Series Unoaked Chardonnay
Finalists
Blasted Church Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay Musque
Ganton and Larsen
Prospect Winery 2006 Townsend Jack Unoaked Chardonnay
Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery 2007 Chardonnay Unoaked
 
Riesling
Best of Class
Wild Goose Vineyards 2007 God’s Mountain Riesling
Finalists
See Ya Later Ranch 2007 Riesling
Gehringer Brothers
Estate Winery 2007 Dry Riesling
Hillside Estate Winery 2007 Riesling
 
Pinot Blanc
Best of Class
Wild Goose Vineyards 2007 Mystic River Pinot Blanc
Finalists
Wild Goose Vineyards 2006 Mystic River Pinot Blanc
Nk 'Mip Cellars 2007 Pinot Blanc
Peller Estates Winery 2007 Heritage Series Pinot Blanc
 
Sparkling
Best of Class
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2004 Stellar's Jay Brut
Finalists
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Sparkling Pinnacle
 
Pinot Noir
Best of Class
See Ya Later Ranch 2005 Pinot Noir
Finalists
Arrowleaf Cellars 2006 Pinot Noir
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2005 Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir
Mission Hill Family Estat 2006 Reserve Pinot Noir
 
Open Table Red
Best of Class
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2005 Proprietors' Grand
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz
Finalists
Golden Mile Cellars 2006 Zinfandel
Sandhill Wines 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah
Inniskillin Okanagan Winery 2005 Discovery Zinfandel
 
Cabernet Franc
Best of Class
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2005 Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Finalists
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2004 Reserve Cabernet Franc
 
Open Table White
Best of Class
Wild Goose Vineyards 2007 Autumn Gold
Finalists
Calona Vineyards 2007 Artist Series Sovereign Opal
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2007 Ehrenfelser
Gehringer Brothers
Estate Winery 2007 Schonburger Gewurztraminer
Blasted Church Vineyards 2007 Hatfield’s Fuse
 
Red Meritage Blends
Best of Class
Nk ‘Mip Cellars 2005 Qwam Qwmt Meritage
Finalists
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2005 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Meritage
See Ya Later Ranch 2005 Ping
Golden Mile Cellars 2005 Black Arts 5th Element Red
 
Syrah/Shiraz
Best of Class
Sandhill Wines 2006 Small Lots Syrah
Finalists
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2005 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Shiraz
Sandhill Wines 2006 Syrah
 
Blush/Rose
Best of Class
Wild Goose Vineyards 2007 Blanc de Noirs
Finalists
Sandhill Wines 2007 Rose
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2007 Proprietors’ Reserve
Cabernet Franc Rose
 
Sauvignon Blanc
Best of Class
Mission Hill Family Estate 2006 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Gehringer Brothers
Estate Winery 2007 Dry Rock Sauvignon Blanc
Finalists
Stag’s Hollow Winery 2007 Sauvignon Blanc
Ganton and Larsen
Prospect Winery 2006 Council’s Punch Bowl Sauvignon Blanc
 
White Meritage Blends/Varietals
Best of Class
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2006 Black Sage Vineyard Meritage (white)
Finalists
Mission Hill Family Estate 2006 Select Lot Collection Sauvignon
Blanc Semillon
 
Cabernet Sauvignon
Best of Class
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2005 Sunrock Cabernet Sauvignon
Finalists
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2005 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon
 
Gewurztraminer
Best of Class
Wild Goose Vineyards 2007 Gewurztraminer
Finalists
Wild Goose Vineyards 2007 Mystic River Gewurztraminer
See Ya Later Ranch 2007 Gewurztraminer
Desert Hills Estate Winery 2007 Gewurztraminer
Lake Breeze 2007 Gewurztraminer
 
Merlot
Best of Class
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2005 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Merlot
Finalists
Nk ‘Mip Cellars 2005 Qwam Qwmt Merlot
Sandhill Wines 2006 Merlot
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2006 Merlot
Nk ‘Mip Cellars 2005 Merlot
 
Pinot Gris
Best of Class
Wild Goose Vineyards 2007 Pinot Gris
Finalists
Ganton and Larsen
Prospect Winery 2007 Ogopogo's Lair Pinot Grigio
Therapy Vineyards 2007 Pinot Gris
See Ya Later Ranch 2006 Pinot Gris
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2006 Pinot Gris
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2007 Pinot Gris
 
Late Harvest and Desserts
Best of Class
Gehringer Brothers
Estate Winery 2006 Late Harvest Riesling
Finalists
Gray Monk Estate Winery 2007 Kerner Late Harvest
 
Other Icewine
Best of Class
See Ya Later Ranch 2006 Ehrenfelser Icewine
Finalists
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer Icewine
 
Riesling Icewine
Best of Class
Inniskillin Okanagan Winery 2006 Riesling Icewine
Finalists
Mission Hill Family Estate  2006 Reserve Riesling Icewine
 
Fruit Wine
Best of Class
Forbidden Fruit Winery 2007 Pomme Desiree Iced Apple
Finalists
Forbidden Fruit Winery 2007 Plumiscuous Plum Mistelle