Do B.C. wines stack up?
Okanagan Edge Staff - Aug 15, 2017 - Biz Releases

Image: Contributed

Okanagan Valley wine producers take their craft very seriously, but do they hold their own against the industry’s international benchmarks?

This Friday, sommeliers, writers and judges from around the world will attempt to answer that question, at what the BC Wine Institute is calling a “monumental” tasting event.

The third annual Judgement of BC attempts to make history, as 21 internationally renowned industry experts undertake a blind tasting of some of the province’s most widely planted grapes: Merlot and Pinot Gris.

Judges taste several B.C. wines from each category, alongside an equal number of acknowledged international benchmarks.

Aug. 18, at Summerland Waterfront Resort, the results of the judgement will be revealed.

Curated by celebrated Vancouver wine writer DJ Kearney, the judgement will see experts from the United Kingdom, United States and British Columbia weigh in.

Included in the lineup is acclaimed U.K. wine writer Richard Hemming MW, and three other Masters of Wine (the highest qualification in the industry).

“The goal of this event is to honestly assess the current state of grape growing and winemaking in BC, and to provide a clear perspective of the distinct characteristics of British Columbia wine in relation to global standards,” says Laura Kittmer of the BC Wine Institute.

At last year’s competition, the province’s Rieslings held their own against an international field, with Cedar Creek Platinum Block 3 Riesling 2014 placing second, closely behind Max Ferd. Richter Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2013 from Germany. Okanagan Rieslings also placed third, sixth, seventh, 10th and 11th.

B.C.’s Pinot Noirs fared less well, placing fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth against the international field.

Nevertheless, Kearney told the BC Wine Institute she was “pleased with the results.”

“This is not about win or lose, good or better. This is about putting BC wines up against really stiff competition,” she said. “The global wines were all chosen for a reason: to challenge, to push, and to help us realize that we are in great company. This should be a tough competitive set, and it was–it had to be–and B.C. did well. What this shows is that we can hold our own among acknowledged classics.”

This results of this year’s judgement will be revealed at the Judgement of BC Sparkling Reception, Aug. 18, at the Summerland Waterfront Resort ballroom.

More information about the competition is available here.


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