Niagara College wines are award winners.
The Teaching Winery has received seven new medals from a national wine competition – two for sparkling alone at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.
The competition, known as the Nationals, is the largest wine awards in Canada.
This year’s Nationals drew 1,815 entries from 259 different wineries from six different provinces. Held in a different Canadian wine region each year, the 2019 competition took place in Prince Edward County (Ontario) between June 10 and 14.
The College’s awards include:
· gold for Balance 2014 Blanc de Blanc Brut (Sparkling category);
· silver for 2017 Marmitons Gastronomy Pinot Noir (Pinot Noir category);
· silver for 2017 Dean's List Prodigy Icewine (Icewine category);
· silver for 2017 Marmitons Gastronomy Chardonnay Ziraldo (Chardonnay category);
· bronze for 2017 Balance Gewurztraminer (Other Single White including Gewürztraminer and Viognier category);
· bronze for 2018 Balance Rosé (Rosé category); and
· bronze for N/V Balance Brut (Sparkling category).
"Winning seven medals at the Nationals is a real achievement, more so when they are spread among different styles. That speaks to winemaking consistency,” said David Lawrason, co-head judge of the competition.
Lawrason particularly noted the College’s two medals for sparkling wines, including a coveted gold for the Balance Blanc de Blancs 2014 Brut.
“Niagara is positioning itself as a star for traditional method Chardonnay-based bubblies, and the College is now on the leader board,” said Lawrason.