2010 Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards

The Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Wine were announced a little while ago and I’m happy to see some of my favourites on the list. Painted Rock appears to be the windfall winner with two wines on the list (Red Icon and Cabernet Sauvignon), while Rob Van Westen gets a nod for his Vino Grigio. I have yet to try the Foxtrot Pinot Noir, but am keen to give it a go around in addition to that Pentage Gewurztraminer.

Van Westen continues to grow in popularity, but it’s his humble but vibrant character that intrigues me the most. I love how they’ve kept their wine true to the Okanagan roots of farming and agriculture. I wrote a little article called Keeping it Real in the Okanagan if you have an extra 10 minutes or so.

Congratulations to all of this years award winners!

2010 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Wine

Desert Hills Estate Winery
2009 Gamay Noir

Foxtrot Vineyards
2007 Pinot Noir

Gray Monk Estate Vineyards
2007 Odyssey Brut

Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards
2007 Discovery Series Sangiovese

Painted Rock Estate Winery
2007 Red Icon
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Peller Estates Winery
2008 Private Reserve Riesling

Pentâge Winery
2009 Gewurztraminer

Poplar Grove Winery
2007 Syrah

Sandhill Wines
2007 Single Block Merlot

Van Westen Vineyards
2008 Vino Grigio

For a complete list of winners from previous years check out the BC Lt. Governor’s site.