VC08 - Wine — Best of B.C.'s Bottles

Vancouver magazine’s 2008 International Wine Competition drew over 700 entries from across the winemaking world. The judges selected 100 bottles in 10 categories that represented best value; here are the British Columbians that came out on top.

SPARKLING WINE

Sumac Ridge Steller’s Jay Brut 2003
$25 +264879
A perennial winner: B.C.’s first undisputed classic.

LIGHT WHITE

Wild Goose Gewürztraminer 2006
$18.95 +414748
B.C. Gewürz par excellence.

MEDIUM WHITE

Quails’ Gate Limited Release Chardonnay 2005
$18.99 +377770
Super-refined, cool-climate Chardonnay

See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Gris 2006
$19.99 +75739
Big, bold Pinot Gris combines peach, spice, and vanilla flavours.

RICH WHITE

CedarCreek Platinum Reserve Chardonnay 2005
$29.99 +607218
Sensational B.C. Chard — toasty, nutty, buttery, with peach and apple flavours.

Artisan SakeMaker at Granville Island Osake Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu 2007
$24.90 +488932
Vancouver’s very own handcrafted sake. Unfiltered, fresh, pure, and complex.

ROSÉ

Joie Rosé 2006
$20.90 +511469
Bracing Okanagan Rosé from a tiny Naramata winery.

Thornhaven Divino 2006
$14.90 +806406
Superb raspberry and cherry flavours, with plenty of body.

LIGHT RED

Mt. Boucherie Summit Reserve Pinot Noir 2005
$18.90 +643437
Full-flavoured Okanagan Pinot.

See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir 2005
$22.99 +75267
Earthy, autumnal B.C. red.

MEDIUM RED

Quails’ Gate Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2005
$39.99 +639658
Refined cool-climate Pinot Noir.

Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2004
$16.99 +530717
Bold, earthy, leafy expression of B.C. Cab Franc.

RICH RED

CedarCreek Estate Select Syrah 2005
$34.99 +417949
Elegant, complex, balanced wine with pronounced peppery spiciness.

Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Zinfandel 2005
$29.99 +584433
The OK’s first Zin is the real deal: peppery, leathery, and brambly.

Jackson-Triggs Proprietors’ Reserve Shiraz 2005
$19.99 +593103
One of B.C.’s most celebrated wines, full of blackberries, coffee, and chocolate.

Le Vieux Pin Epoque Merlot 2005
$45 +910380
Intensely concentrated, deadly serious blockbuster from the South Okanagan.

NK’Mip Qwam Qwmt Meritage 2005
$29.99 +985697
Classic dusty/herbal/smoky aromas of the South Okanagan.

DESSERT

Inniskillin Okanagan Riesling Icewine 2006
$60 +587758
This is icewine at its very best, super-concentrated but never cloying. Scintillating expression of pure Riesling fruit, oozing peaches, apricots, and apples.

Mission Hill Reserve Riesling Icewine 2006
$59.99 +240127
Okanagan icewine at its finest. Luscious peach and apricot flavours with lovely balancing acidity.