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office of the lieutenant governor of ontario

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For immediate release                                                                                                
November 18, 2011

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF INAUGURAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ONTARIO WINES

TORONTO – The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, is pleased to announce the recipients of the first annual Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines.  An amazing 277 submissions were received from 76 VQA Ontario wineries for this competition, held in partnership with the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College.

In no specific order, the winning submissions for the 2011 competition are:

  • Huff Estates Winery, PEC Cuvée Peter F. Huff Sparkling 2008
  • Ziraldo Estate Winery, Riesling Icewine 2007
  • Southbrook Vineyards, Triomphe Chardonnay 2009
  • Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, Sibling Rivalry Pink 2010
  • Malivoire Wine Company, Pinot Noir 2009
  • Charles Baker, Charles Baker Riesling 2009
  • Mountain Road Wine Company, Mountain Road Vidal Icewine 1999
  • Magnotta Winery, Enotrium Gran Riserva 2008
  • Stoney Ridge Cellars, Excellence Chardonnay 2009
  • Malivoire Wine Company, Courtney Gamay 2009
  • Mike Weir Wine, Riesling 2008
  • Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Riesling 2010

“I am thrilled to help recognize and promote the excellent quality of wine making in Ontario with this distinction,” said the Lieutenant Governor.

His Honour will present awards at a ceremony and wine tasting reception on the evening of December 7, 2011, in the Vice-Regal Suite at Queen’s Park.  Invitations will also be extended to members of Ontario’s Consular Corps.

  • Modeled after the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia’s wine awards, Ontario’s ‘Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines’ was created on April 15, 2011, after extensive consultation with industry stakeholders including: the Winery and Grower Alliance of Ontario, the Grape Growers of Ontario, the Wine Council of Ontario, and the Canadian Food & Wine Institute at Niagara College.
  • The design and delivery of this program was implemented in partnership with Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College.
  • This annual competition is open to all VQA wines in the province, produced by definition, with 100% Ontario-grown and Ontario-processed grapes.
  • The competition will recognize the best wines submitted regardless of vintage or variety. Instead of the typical ‘best of per varietal’, this award celebrates the ‘best of per competition’.
  • A total of 277 wines were submitted by 76 wineries.
  • Adjudication was conducted by ten of Ontario’s leading wine experts and sommeliers.
  • The twelve winning wines were derived from two of Ontario’s four appellations.
  • Ontario’s terroir conditions support great varieties of balanced, complex, and elegant wines, characteristics well-reflected in the range of this year winners.
  • Awards will be presented at a ceremony in the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite at Queen’s Park on December 7, 2011.  A wine tasting reception that will include members of the Consular Corps will follow the awards presentation.

 

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Contact:
Ms. Nanda Casucci-Byrne
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
416-325-7780
www.lt.gov.on.ca