Each year, Wine Access magazine holds a professionally judged tasting of Canadian wines. Here’s run down of best in class for Ontario wines 2012:
Red Single Varieties: Gamay
Bronze
Huff Estates 2008 Reserve Gamay, Ontario $25
Red Blends
Gold
Wayne Gretzky 2007 Estate Series Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $22
Silver
Niagara College 2007 Dean’s List Meritage, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $48
Vineland Estates 2007 Reserve Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $49
Bronze
Sandbanks Estate 2007 Cabernet Merlot, Prince Edward County, Ontario $25
Alvento 2007 Emilie, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $30
Fielding Estate 2008 Cabernet-Syrah, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $25
Hidden Bench 2007 Terroir Caché Red Meritage, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $45
Colio Estate 2006 CEV Meritage, Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario $21
Dan Aykroyd 2008 Discovery Series Cabernet Shiraz, Ontario $15
Angels Gate 2008 Cabernet Shiraz, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $15
Henry of Pelham 2008 Sibling Rivalry Red, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $14
Hidden Bench 2007 La Brunante, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $85
Calamus 2007 Meritage, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $30
Creekside Estate 2007 Laura Red, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $23
Union 2007 Red, Ontario $14
White Single Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc
Gold
Hidden Bench 2008 Rosomel Vineyard Nuit Blanche, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $45
Silver
Strewn Winery 2009 Terroir Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $17
Peller Estates Niagara-on-the-Lake 2009 Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $30
Bronze
Jackson-Triggs Niagara 2009 Proprietors’ Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $14
Lakeview Cellars 2009 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $18
Peller Estates Niagara-on-the-Lake 2009 Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $19
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2008 Grand Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $19
Hillebrand 2009 Trius Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $14
Nyarai Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $19
White Blends
Silver
Coyote’s Run 2009 Five Mile, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $14
Jackson-Triggs Niagara 2008 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve White Meritage, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $25
Birchwood 2008 Fresh Gewürztraminer Riesling, Ontario $12
Henry of Pelham 2009 Sibling Rivalry White, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $14
Flat Rock Cellars 2009 Twisted, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $17
Bronze
Inniskillin 2008 Reserve Series Brae Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $15
Reif Estate 2009 Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $12
Reif Estate 2009 Trend White, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $14
Hillebrand 2009 Trius White, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $20
Flat Rock Cellars 2008 Seriously Twisted, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $23
Heather Mitchell: wine enthusiast 