2023 Medal Winners
George Brown College Announces Results for Ontario Wine Awards 2023
A celebration of Ontario’s finest wines.
(TORONTO) June 8, 2023— George Brown College (GBC) has announced the results for the Ontario Wine Awards (OWA) 2023, the province’s most prestigious wine competition and awards program.
The OWA, founded by Tony Aspler in 1995, recognizes Ontario Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) wines for their quality, distinctionand brilliance.
A total of 558 wines were entered in this year’s competition held at GBC and were judged by ten panels of judges.
“Kudos to George Brown College for taking the competition judging to a new level,” said Aspler. “The involvement of the students in the execution of the Ontario Wine Awards, including the judging process (there will be a special student award this year), will ensure a new cohort of ambassadors for the Ontario wine industry.”
The results were released at the awards ceremony, held at Niagara College, where the medals for best in category were presented to the winemakers.
The quality of winemaking was exceptional with the following medals handed out — 40 Gold, 32 Silver, 30 Bronze.
The Winemaker of the Year Award went to Katie Dickieson from Peller Estates with six medals: including four gold.
The Paul Pender Memorial ‘Rising Star’ Award went to Brooke Husband, Assistant Winemaker, Domaine Queylus. The Paul Pender Memorial Award celebrates the achievements and legacy of an outstanding leader in the Canadian wine industry. The recipient of this ‘Rising Star’ award - selected by a committee of their peers - has demonstrated the qualities that made Paul Pender a winemaker’s winemaker - talent, selfless generosity, mentorship, and innovation.
“George Brown College remains at the centre of the hospitality industry in Canada. As a long-time leader in hospitality education, the college is excited to have recently acquired the Ontario Wine Awards and incorporate the program into our academic and enterprise delivery, further positioning GBC as a beverage alcohol education leader,” said Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of George Brown College. “Congratulations to this year’s group of winemakers who showcased exceptional attention to detail, patience, and creativity.”
George Brown’s Center for Hospitality & Culinary Arts has been involved in the OWA judging and events since 2016.
The various competitions and tastings delivered under OWA draw more than 80 industry leading wineries, 500 wine entrants and over 500 participants across the events.
For media inquiries: Saron Fanel, External Communications Specialist, [email protected]
2023 ONTARIO WINE AWARDS RESULTS
Medal Awards
Sparkling Wine (Traditional Method) Award
- Gold: Megalomaniac, Bubblehead Limited Edition Brut N/V
- Gold: Thirty Bench, Winemaker’s Sparkling Riesling N/V
- Gold: Trius Winery, Showcase Blanc de Blancs N/V
- Gold: Malivoire, Bisous Rosé N/V
- Gold: Niagara College Teaching Winery, Balance Brut N/V
- Silver: Trius Winery, Brut Rosé N/V
- Silver: 13th Street Winery, Grande Cuvée Blanc de Noir 2013 Recently Disgorged
- Silver: Chateau des Charmes, Blanc de Blancs 2018
- Silver: Malivoire, Bisous Brut N/V
- Silver: 13th Street Winery, Premier Cuvée 2017
- Bronze: Chateau des Charmes, Brut Sparkling N/V
Sparkling Wine (Cuve Close)
- Gold: Greenlane Estate Winery, Saffron Sparkling Rosé 2021
- Silver: Colio Estate Wines, Lily Sparkling N/V
Semi-Dry Riesling Award
- Gold: Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyards, Riesling 2017
- Gold: Megalomaniac, Narcissist Riesling 2021
- Silver: Thirty Bench, Small Lot Riesling Wood Post Vineyard 2020
Pinot Gris Award
No Gold Medal awarded.
- Silver: Strewn Winery, Pinot Grigio 2021
- Silver: Konzelmann Estate Winery, Pinot Grigio - Lakefront Series 2021
- Bronze: Wayne Gretzky Estates, Signature Series Pinot Grigio 2021
Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Award
- Gold: Peller Estates Winery, Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021
- Gold: Trius Winery, Showcase Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2020
No Silver Medal awarded.
- Bronze: Reif Estate Winery, Drea's Sauvignon Blanc 2022
- Bronze: Magnotta, Sauvignon Blanc VQA 2022
- Bronze: Ravine, Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Unoaked Chardonnay Award
- Gold: Big Head Wines Inc., 2022 Chardonnay Stone
No Silver Medal awarded.
- Bronze: Strewn Winery, Distinctive Small Lot Chardonnay Musqué 2021
- Bronze: Konzelmann Estate Winery, Chardonnay Unoaked - Lakefront Series 2022
Oaked Chardonnay (Over $20) Award
- Gold: Konzelmann Estate Winery, Chardonnay Barrel Aged 2022
- Gold: Exultet Estates, cru X Chardonnay 2018
- Silver: Jackson-Triggs, Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2020
- Bronze: Le Clos Jordanne, Jordan Village Chardonnay 2020
Gewürztraminer Award
- Gold: Magnotta, Gewürztraminer VQA Venture Series 2022
Dry White Varietals Award
No Gold Medal awarded.
- Silver: Malivoire, Wine 2022 Stouck Viognier
- Bronze: Big Head Wines Inc., 2021 Chenin Blanc
Other Dry Wines Award
- Gold: Palatine Hills Estate Winery, Wild & Free Semillon 2021
No Silver Medal awarded.
- Bronze: Big Head Wines Inc., 2020 RAW Chenin Blanc
Gamay Award
- Gold: 13th Street Winery, Gamay 2021
No Silver Medal awarded.
- Bronze: 13th Street Winery, Gamay Sandstone 2021
- Bronze: Chateau des Charmes, Gamay Noir Estate 2020
Rosé Award
- Gold: 180 Estate Winery, Gamay Rosé 2021
- Silver: Reif Estate Winery, Drea's Rosato 2021
- Silver: Huff Estates Winery, Getaway Rosé 2022
- Silver: Malivoire, 2022 Vivant Rosé
- Silver: Inniskillin, Reserve Cabernet Franc Rosé 2021
- Silver: Reif Estate Winery, 'Fortune' Rosé 2022
- Bronze: Malivoire, 2022 Rosé Moira
Pinot Noir Award
- Gold: King and Victoria, Pinot Noir 2018
- Gold: Domaine Queylus, 2018 Pinot Noir La Grande Réserve
- Silver: Konzelmann Estate Winery, Pinot Noir - Lakefront Series 2021
Cabernet Franc Award
- Gold: Domaine Queylus, 2020 Cabernet Franc Tradition
- Gold: Ravine, Cabernet Franc 2020
- Gold: Peller Estates Winery, Signature Series Cabernet Franc 2020
- Gold: Big Head Wines Inc., 2020 Cabernet Franc Select
- Gold: Thirty Bench, Winemaker’s Wild Cask Cabernet Franc 2020
- Silver: Konzelmann Estate Winery, Cabernet Franc Family Reserve 2020
- Silver: London Born Wine Co., Cabernet Franc 2018
- Bronze: Hinterbrook Estate Winery, Cabernet Franc Reserve 2017
- Bronze: Marynissen Estates, Platinum Series Cabernet Franc 2020
- Bronze: Thirty Bench, Winemaker’s Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2020
- Bronze: Dark Horse Estate Winery, One Horse Town Cabernet Franc 2019
Merlot Award
- Gold: Sprucewood Shores Winery, Merlot Hawk's Flight Reserve 2020
- Gold: Thirty Bench, Winemaker’s Small Lot Merlot 2020
- Gold: Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, Signature Series, Reserve Merlot 2020
- Gold: Niagara College Teaching Winery, Dean's List Merlot 2020
- Silver: Inniskillin, Montague Vineyard Merlot 2020
- Silver: Bella Terra Vineyards, Merlot 2020
- Silver: Konzelmann Estate Winery, Merlot Family Reserve 2020
- Silver: Chateau des Charmes, St. Davids Bench Merlot
Meritage and Cabernet Blends Award
- Gold: Magnotta, Legacy Limited Edition VQA 2018
- Gold: Konzelmann Estate Winery, Legacy Meritage 2020
- Gold: Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Reserve Red 2020
- Gold: Three Dog Winery, Big Red 2020
- Silver: Hinterbrook Estate Winery, Trinity 2016
- Silver: The Foreign Affair Winery Temptress 2020
- Bronze: Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Ravine Meritage 2020
- Bronze: Magnotta, Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot VQA Venture Series 2020
Syrah/Shiraz Award
- Gold: Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, Premium Series, Terraced Vineyard Syrah 2020
No Silver Medal awarded.
- Bronze: Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, Signature Series, Reserve Syrah 2020
- Bronze: Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, Premium Series, Proprietor's Block Syrah 2020
Hybrid Red Award
No Gold Medal awarded.
- Silver: Creemore Hills Winery, Marquette 2021
Late Harvest Whites & Reds Award
- Gold: Peller Estates Winery, Private Reserve Late Harvest Vidal 2021
- Gold: Trius Winery, Showcase Late Harvest Vidal 2021
- Silver: Casa Dea Estates, Pinot Grigio Late Harvest 2021
Appassimento Red Award
No Gold Medal awarded.
No Silver Medal awarded.
- Bronze: Sprucewood Shores Winery, Appassimento Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Other Red Wines Award
- Gold: Strewn Winery, Select Late Harvest Cabernet 2017
- Silver: Pelee Island Winery, Vinedresser Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot 2016
- Bronze: Legends Estates Winery, Petit Verdot Reserve 2021
- Bronze: Pelee Island Winery, Stone & Sky 2021
Vidal Icewine Award
No Gold Medal awarded.
- Silver: Magnotta, Vidal Icewine Merritt Road Limited Edition VQA 2019
- Silver: Peller Estates Winery, Andrew Peller Oak Aged Vidal Blanc Icewine 2019
- Bronze: Magnotta, Vidal Icewine Niagara Peninsula Limited Edition VQA 2020
- Bronze: Chateau des Charmes, Vidal 2018
Vinifera Icewine Award
- Gold: Inniskillin, Cabernet Franc Icewine 2019
- Gold: Riverview Cellars Estate Winery, Riesling Icewine 2019
- Gold: Andrew Peller, Riesling Icewine 2019
- Silver: Big Head Wines Inc., 2015 Riesling Icewine
- Bronze: Pelee Island Winery, Icewine 2017
- Bronze: Magnotta, Cabernet Franc Icewine Niagara Peninsula Limited Edition VQA 2018
- Bronze: Magnotta, Riesling Icewine Niagara Peninsula Limited Edition VQA 2019
- Bronze: Inniskillin, Riesling Icewine 2021
Unassigned Wines Award
- Gold: London Born Wine Co., Chardonnay Musqué 2020
- Silver: Niagara College Teaching Winery, Balance Muscat 2020
Special Awards
Label Design Award
- First Place: Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, Speck Bros., Lazarra Bianco Secco.
- Second Place: Colio Estate Wines Hopetown Sauvignon Blanc
Students Choice Award
- Trius Winery Brut Rosé N/V
- Villa Romana Estate Winery, Speziato Gewürztraminer 2021
- Thirty Bench, Winemaker’s Small Lot Merlot 2020