Column: The best wines in the world

What are the very best wines on the earth? In response to the well-respected British Decanter journal, they’re the top-scoring wines from the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) whose outcomes had been revealed earlier this month.

18,095 wines had been tasted from 56 nations, however solely 50 had been awarded the distinguished Finest in Present Medal.

Andrew Jefford, a DWWA Co-Chair, Decanter editor, and award-winning writer, stated, “DWWA is the world’s main wine competitors. I’m completely thrilled to participate in it yearly as a result of having tasted in plenty of different competitions I understand how effectively it’s organized, how fastidiously all the pieces is finished. We get entries from each nook of the wine world, so it’s because it had been the closest you may get to a common benchmark.”

France frequently dominates the Finest in Present; this yr it was the chief once more with 15 wins. Italy was awarded seven medals, Portugal three, Australia two, and England, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Germany, and Canada one Finest in Present. It was the Hidden Bench 2018 Felseck Winery Chardonnay, Beamsville Bench from Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula, which was awarded 97 factors!

In terms of Gold Medals, BC was awarded ten Golds whereas Ontario obtained 5. Syrah was the preferred BC Gold Medal winner with Poplar Grove 2018 Syrah, Pink Rooster Uncommon Chicken Sequence 2018 Syrah, and Tightrope 2018 Syrah.

The following varietal that gained Gold was Cabernet Franc from Mission Hill Household Property Terroir Assortment 2019 Vista’s Edge Cabernet Franc and Harper’s Path 2019 Thadd Springs Winery Cabernet Franc.

The opposite BC Gold winners had been Meyer 2018 Micro Cuvee Previous Principal Highway Winery Chardonnay, Burrowing Owl 2016 Meritage, Black Hills 2018 Carmenere, and Little Engine 2018 Pinot Noir.

58 BC Wines gained Silver Medals. Mission Hill led the pack with 5 Silvers, adopted by Tinhorn Creek successful 4, and Painted Rock receiving 3 Silver Medals. Stag’s Hole in Okanagan Falls obtained two Silver Medals for his or her 2017 Renaissance Merlot and 2018 Syrah.

There have been 82 Bronze Medals awarded to BC wines. I used to be happy to see that considered one of our pioneer wineries, Grey Monk gained 9 medals together with the varietal they first planted in our province again within the 1980’s, Pinot Gris with their the Grey Monk 2019 Odyssey Pinot Gris.

Whereas Bronze Medals could not have the identical status as Finest in Class or Platinum or Gold, the possibility that you will discover Bronze winners nonetheless available in shops is much better than winners from larger classes. To begin with there are extra winners within the Bronze class, and the wineries normally produce extra of those wines. And the costs are nearly at all times less expensive.

There are some Bronze Medal wineries, which I haven’t tried any of their wines earlier than. Frind Property Vineyard has been off my radar till now. This vineyard on the seashore in West Kelowna gained six Bronzes together with The Premier, a pink mix with six varietals and the Frind Glowing Brut.

I’m happy to see that Highway 13 in Oliver confirmed very effectively successful 5 Bronze Medals together with their fifth Factor. Richmond’s Lulu Island Vineyard earned one Bronze with their Riesling-Chardonnay Icewine. And Summerhill Pyramid Vineyard earned three Bronzes together with their Heritage Sequence Marechal Foch and Ehrenfelser, two tasty varietals I wrote about in June. Many wine drinkers aren’t conscious of Foch and Ehrenfelser. Pity! . And Fort Berens up in Lillooet was awarded two Bronze Medals for his or her Reserve Riesling and their Reserve Cabernet Franc.

Stag’s Hole in Okanagan Falls earned three Bronze Medals for his or her 2018 Renaissance Syrah and Pinot Noir, in addition to their 2019 Albarino, which I’ve loved a number of occasions this yr.

To find all of the medal winners from the 2021 Decanter WWA go to its website.