Best Canadian wine: 11 award-winning wines to try from Canada

While the country might be best known for its icewine, Canadian still and sparkling wines are well worth seeking out. Canada is still a relatively new player in the drier end of the wine market – until the 1970s, most Canadian wine was sweet, but a handful of wineries sprung up and the country hasn’t looked back.

No single grape variety dominates – in fact, there’s healthy competition, with a host of international varieties including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the twin heartlands of Ontario and British Columbia.

This year’s IWSC saw an impressive haul of medals for Canadian sparkling wine. Lakeview’s Brut scored 96/100 and earning a Gold Medal. The judges said the wine is ‘fantastically complex and characterful, boasting a long, lingering, truffle-forward finish.’

Road 13’s Jackpot Sparkling Chenin Blanc was also awarded a Gold Medal, with judges commenting on its ‘fantastically enticing nose of stone fruit, buttered toast and white truffle.’

Poplar Grove’s The Legacy, a red known as a ‘Bordeaux blend’ because of its mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, scored 94/100 and impressed thanks to a ‘spiced bramble fruit compote intensity showcasing leather, cedar and cigar box smoky nuances.’

Every Canadian wine in this year’s IWSC was judged by an expert panel. Canadian wine is a treasure trove packed with delights, and it’s a country that delivers no matter what the style. We’re delighted to present our pick of the best Canadian wines as judged by the IWSC.

HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE WINES?

We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.

HOW DO WE SCORE THESE WINES?

Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.

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