Wonders of Wine and Food

 All Canadian Wine Awards

Surprises

Yes, in my mind there were a few surprises at the All Canadian Wine Awards for 2025. The organization added International Blends awards but that was expected. One of the biggest surprises was the number of medals won by New Brunswick and Quebec.

British Columbia walked away with the most medals which is no surprise since they have done that the last few years. BC has the second most wineries to Ontario who collected the second most medals. The big surprise was 4 Double Gold 5 Gold 2 silver and 2 Bronze won by New Brunswick. Perhaps the province outside of the Prairies with the least number of wineries..

Quebec won 1 trophy and 12 Double Gold. They also collected 10 Gold,9 silver and 7 Bronze. Miel Nature inc. (QC) won Best Mead of the Year for their Pomme et Miel. La Cantina won two Gold in the Rosés Dry Category.

Remember, not all wineries enter these award competitions. Of those that did there were some surprising winners. Another surprise was how few awards were won by the older, prestigious wineries.

Happy Knight Wines NB Won double Gold for their Cranberry Rosé a surprise maybe but then their consultant is the highly respected Dominic Rivard. 

Magnetic Hill Winery , Moncton NB, won Double Gold for their Single White Hybrids The OC Osceola by the Sea 2024. A double surprise the won another Double Gold for their Terroir Generator New World Cali Style - Single Red Hybrids. Did I mention their third medal another Double Gold for their Soft Fruit off Dry Bay of Fundy and in the same category a silver for their Evangeline Blanc.

Coming out of Nova Scotia, a small Winery named for the town it is in Bear River Vineyards won Double Gold for White Hybrid Blends.

How about the new Solvero Wines winning Best White Wine of the Year for their 2022 Chardonnay; surprise or not, after all their winemaker is the highly respected Alison Moyes.

How about Keint-he Winery Best Rose Wine of the Year. They also won a silver for their Portage Pinot Noir.

Maan Farms Estate Winery took home the best Fruit Wine Trophy for their Strawberry Dessert Wine.

A winery I have heard very little about Villa Romana Estate Winery Inc in Ontario won a silver for the Cenerentolo 2022 Sparking Wine.

I was not expecting Moraine Estate Winery on the Naramata Bench to take the Double Gold for Shiraz /over $35.

I cannot say I was surprised that Baillie-Grohman won a double Gold for their Gewürztraminer , I would say it was about time they received recognition for their "fine" cellar of wines.

One winery that keeps surprising us is Alderlea Vineyards near Duncan on Vancouver Island. The husband and wife team of Zac Brown and Julie Powell keep producing outstanding wines. Winning a Double Gold for their 2024 Pinot Gris and more additional medals.

The Biggest Surprise Loose Wire Winery a New Brunswick-based winery that’s starting to make waves—especially after winning a Double Gold at the 2025 All Canadian Wine Championships for their 2024 Orange Pet Nat. They also won a Bronze for their Appassimento Style Experssimento. A winery I did not know about to just a few weeks ago and I have zero information about them!!