Anthony Gismondi: These B.C. wineries won big at the WineAlign Awards

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After B.C. Day, and the momentum to buy locally produced products, we conclude our 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada coverage, spotlighting the national performance of B.C. wineries based on their top five scoring wines. Full results and rules can be viewed at winealign.com/awards.

• Mission Hill Family Estate (No. 1 B.C., No. 1 Canada) topped the country’s best list with a varied mix, portfolio-wide, of high-quality wines, including two platinum, six gold, and one silver medal. The 2022 Perpetua Chardonnay led the pack, followed by four excellent Terroir Series labels: 2022 Cabernet Franc, 2023 Chardonnay, 2023 Border Vista Sauvignon Blanc and the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Laughing Stock Vineyards (No. 1 best-performing small winery of the year producing < 10,000 cases, No. 2 B.C., No. 2 Canada) winemaker Sandy Leier wowed the judges with two platinum, three gold, one Silver and one bronze medal, and a top five of 2022 Syrah, 2022 Blind Trust Red, 2022 Pinot Noir, 2022 Portfolio, and a first release 2020 Market Bubbles Sparkling Blanc de Noirs.

• Meyer Family Vineyards (No. 3 B.C., No. 3 Canada) winemaker Chris Carson kept Meyer in the Top 10, winning two platinum, two gold, three silver and four bronze medals. Meyer’s top labels include the 2022 B Field Blend McLean Creek Road Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2022 Chardonnay McLean Creek Road Vineyard, 2022 Old Block Pinot Noir McLean Creek Road Vineyard and 2020 Pinot Noir McLean Creek Road Vineyard.

• SpearHead Winery (No. 4 B.C., No. 4 Canada) followed up an impressive 2024 performance with a solid fourth place nationally and in B.C. Winemaker Grant Stanley turned out 2 Platinum, 2 Gold, 7 Silver and 4 Bronze medals, including the 2022 Okanagan Valley Pinot Noir, 2022 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, 2022 Chardonnay Clone 95, 2022 Club Consensus Pinot Noir and the 2022 Riesling.

• Quails’ Gate Estate (No. 5 B.C., No. 6 Canada), the West Kelowna pioneer and certified sustainable vineyard, maintained its top-10 standing with a mix of grapes scoring scored one platinum, four gold, four silver and two bronze medals, including 2022 Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay, 2022 Plume Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022 Boswell Syrah, 2022 Richard’s Block Pinot Noir and the delicious 2024 Continuum Riesling.

• Tantalus Vineyards (No. 6 B.C., No. 10 Canada) works with some of the country’s oldest vinifera plantings and has built a reputation for Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It won give gold, three silver and one bronze medal among the 2022 Further Afield Series Syrah, 2022 Den’s Block Old Vines Riesling, 2022 Chardonnay Reserve, 2022 Blanc de Noir Sparkling and the 2022 Reserve Pinot Noir.

• Township 7 (No. 7 B.C., No. 12 Canada) had a sparkling top-10 performance, securing five gold, two silver and four bronze medals. The top-rated wines included 2017 Seven Stars Sirius Sparkling Blanc de Noirs, 2022 Benchmark Black Dog Red Blend, 2022 7 Seven Stars Rosé Nebula Sparkling Rosé, 2022 Benchmark Reserve 7 Red Blend and the 2021 Seven Stars Polaris Sparkling Blanc de Blancs.

• CedarCreek Estate (No. 8 B.C., No. 14 Canada) maintains its top-10 status with another strong cool climate performance of Riesling and Pinot, tallying one platinum, two gold, four silver and two bronze medals. Top labels included: 2022 Aspect Collection Riesling, 2022 Platinum Riesling South Kelowna Slopes, 2022 Aspect Collection Pinot Noir, 2023 Platinum Naramata Bench Riesling and 2023 Platinum Naramata Bench Pinot Noir.

• Stag’s Hollow Winery (No. 9 B.C., No. 15 Canada) led by winemaker, director of operations and Okanagan-born Keira LeFranc, Stag’s Hollow landed one platinum, two gold, three silver and four bronze medals. Look for the 2022 Syrah, 2022 Syrah Renaissance, 2022 Pinot Noir Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard, 2022 Chardonnay Renaissance Herrera Vineyard and 2022 Pinot Noir Renaissance.

• Moon Curser Vineyards (No. 10 B.C., No. 18 Canada) from Osoyoos in the South Okanagan, Moon Curser closes out the top ten with four gold, three silver and four bronze medals. As the warmest site in all of Canada, it is not surprising to see the top picks: 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022 Touriga Nacional, 2022 Dead of Night Red Blend, 2022 Malbec, and 2022 Carménère.

Weekend Wine Picks

Pink by Yellowglen Soft Rosé Pinot Noir — Chardonnay N/V, Australia

$12.99 I 87/100

UPC: 00098137113236

At $12.99, the same price it was when we last sampled it 13 years ago, this sparkling wine offers notable value. Pink continues to exceed expectations, presenting fresh red berry and strawberry complemented by a hint of residual sugar that adds sweetness to the mid-palate before a touch of citrus provides balance to the finish. The wine is clean, well crafted and displays an enticing red-orange hue. It pairs well with spicy tuna sushi or barbecued ribs, making it a versatile choice.

Champagne Lanson Green Label Bio-Organic N/V, Champagne, France

$79.99 I 91/100

UPC: 692743002863

If you are looking for a Champagne bargain, the Lanson Green Label is marked down $20 since we last reviewed it. The certified organic fruit presents an appealing fresh green apple style streaked with lemon pith and floral, mineral, chalky notes. Its precision can be found in its tight linear palate that refreshes every sip. The cuvée is a 50/30/20 Pinot Noir, Pinot meunier and Chardonnay mix that spends 48 months on its lees, as exhibited by its appealing aromas and textures.

Garzón Albariño Reserva 2024, Garzón, Maldonado, San José, Uruguay

$24.99 I 91/100

UPC: 7730951080938

Albariño is Garzon’s flagship white wine and the leading white variety in Uruguay. This month, it is available at a reduced price of $22.99. The wine features refined notes of fresh fruit and white flowers complemented by citrus accents, concluding with a subtle mineral finish. It pairs well with a citrus prawn salad, as well as Asian or Peruvian ceviche dishes.

Lightning Rock Cabernet Franc Alvail Estate Vineyard 2023, Golden Mile Slopes, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

$25.00 I 90/100

UPC: 696852137553

Alvail Estate Vineyard is located on the Golden Mile Slopes and is a new source of grapes at Lightning Rock. It is a bright, youthful, juicy red wine with light tannins and plenty of spice. This earthy, peppery affair is crammed full of fresh cranberries and ripe plum, dusted in dried herbs. The winery suggests tomato-based dishes like a pappardelle al ragu or a ratatouille, or something like smoky BBQ ribs drizzled with tangy vinegar sauce and earthy black lentils. Tasty.

Rebil Cabernet Franc 2022, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

$39.99 I 92/100

UPC: 611138444927

The 2022 vintage, an exceptional year for red wines, marks the emergence of Rebil Cabernet Franc grown at the southernmost part of the Okanagan Valley. This wine offers pronounced spicy black fruit aromas that carry through to the palate. Both red and black raspberries are prominent at the forefront, complemented by rich, dense and sweet tannins. Despite its substantial structure, the wine retains a vibrant character and demonstrates significant aging potential.

Calendar and other items

• Harvest Wrap Party: A Taste of Argentina returns to Lakeboat Vineyard & Winery in Kaleden on Aug. 31, from 5-7 p.m. The event features authentic Argentine food paired with award-winning local wines served al fresco amid the winery’s cherry orchard. Tickets are a modest $55 per person and can be purchased online at lakeboatwinery.com. A longtime partner in vinous celebrations, the legendary A Taste of Argentina will be catering the feast, serving choripans (Argentine sausage-on-a-bun), complete with homemade chimichurri sauce, empanadas, grilled meats and a variety of salads available to ticket-holders. The tasting room will be open for attendees to taste and purchase wines to enjoy throughout the event.

• In 2023, Ridge Vineyards joined the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) and formed a sustainability committee. Almost immediately, Ridge began shifting to lighter, domestic glass and natural cork, and replaced heavy wooden shipping boxes with recyclable corrugated cardboard. The change cut 50,000 pounds of worldwide shipping weight, reducing both costs and CO₂ emissions. Cardboard was chosen for its sturdiness, recyclability and ability to be designed with a premium look using water-based ink. A green cell foam cradle made from corn, which dissolves in water, replaces plastic foam inside the box, further enhancing sustainability. The box provides plenty of room for Ridge to tout its commitment to sustainability, ensuring minimal pushback from its high-end customer base.

B.C. Wine of the Week

Liber Everyday Chardonnay 2023, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

$23.99 I 90/100

UPC: 611138444705

This organically grown Similkameen Valley Chardonnay is in its seventh year. It grows just above a bend in the Similkameen River, east of Cawston. There is something to be said for making a clean, uncomplicated Chardonnay aged in stainless steel, yielding a crisp, clean, mineral-based Chardonnay with fresh pear and apple fruit. The site profits from afternoon sun that reflects off the river, allowing the fruit to ripen fully, adding a pineapple streak that balances the leaner apple and pear notes. The Everyday moniker is a fit, just as a bowl of popcorn or a chicken taco is. Oh, and it’s 100 per cent farmed organic.

Value Wine of the Week

Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet Les Pins De Camille 2023, Coteaux du Languedoc, France

$21.99 I 88/100

UPC: 3186127768690

Over the years, the Omarine Picpoul de Pinet has gradually established a dedicated following in B.C. who value this refined southern French varietal, which is a compelling alternative to Sauvignon Blanc, especially when you consider the fresh shellfish available to us here on the West Coast. It’s fresh, mineral-driven and awash in citrus notes flecked with honey, ginger, and quince. And it’s on sale all month.