Winners of the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards of Excellence in B.C. Wine

Sumac Ridge 2004 Steller’s Brut
Displaying a fine mousse with long lasting bubbles and a slightly peachy hue. This sparkling wine offers up a crisp nose, aromas of apples, yeasty notes and mineral. Nice, clean effervescence on the palate with loads of crisp acidity on the finish. Very refreshing. $27 (Availability: VQA shops, BC LDB, private retailers)

Calona Vineyards 2007 Artist Series Chardonnay
This unoaked version features apple, pear, orange peel, lemon oil, honeydew melon characteristics. Nice crisp acidity on the palate with tropical fruit, apple and melon flavours with a lemony finish. Not a fruit bomb, just a well-balanced, quaffable style at an awesome price. $13.99 (Availability: VQA shops, BC LDB, private retailers)

Wild Goose 2007 Autumn Gold
A delightful blend that includes Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer, it features baked apple, rose petal, apricot and spicy notes. Bright and fresh fruit character on the palate with some mineral and lime on the finish. A top of the line patio wine. $18.95 (Availability: VQA shops, private retailers, winery direct)

Wild Goose 2007 Pinot Gris
Lovely aromas of nectarine, peach, honey, mineral spice and a touch of ginger greet you from the glass. It features a crisp entry with loads of lemon-lime, peach and spice on the palate. And has a refreshing spritz-like acidity on the finish. Delightful. $18.95 (Availability: VQA shops, private retailers, winery direct)

Stoneboat Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir
Nice complexity on the nose with bright fruit aromas of Bing cherry, strawberry and a touch of rhubarb accented by tobacco, vanilla, white pepper and a bit of smoke. upple mouthfeel with bright fruit flavours, pepper and good length on the finish. Quite elegant and affordable. $21.90 (Availability: winery direct, private retailers)

Golden Mile Cellars 2006 Black Arts Syrah
More savoury than fruity, this wine has aromas of sausage meat, earth, poultry spice, cocoa, pepper and some brambleberry, black cherry, coffee bean and menthol. The complexity continues of the palate with a weighty mouthfeel, moderate tannins and extended length with some pepperyness. $34.99 (Availability: select VQA shops, private retailers)

Blasted Church 2006 Syrah
Perfumy aromas of blueberry, plum, violets, blackberry jam, pie crust, vanilla and spice. Luscious on the plate with black fruit flavours, lots of elegance and a smooth, round and slightly spicy finish. Tannins are moderate, but mellow enough for current drinking. Yummy. $26.90 (Availability: select VQA shops, private retailers)

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2005 Proprietors’ Grand Reserve Shiraz
Both fruity and savoury, this bold version is smoky, meaty, peppery with complex black fruit aromas, some soya and cedar. Big dark fruit entry with a good deal of peppery character on the palate, although well balanced. Needs a bit time in the bottle to bring out its suppleness, but worth the effort. (Availability: select VQA shops, private retailers)

Red Rooster Winery 2006 Malbec
Complex nose of crushed violets, plum, blueberry, leather, pepper spice, smoky oak, vanilla. A big, weighty mouth feel with good fruit concentration, toasty oak, coffee bean, earth and moderate to firm tannins. Needs some aging but a fantastic effort that bodes well for this variety in the valley. $22.99 (Availability: Winery only - may be sold out)

Sandhill Wines 2006 Cabernet Franc
Peppery, herbaceous aromas with black cherry, black currant, bruised violets, cedar, tobacco and dark vanilla. Silky entry with black fruit flavours, cedar, vanilla, smoke and herbal characteristics. Superb effort and a great price. $19.99 (Availability: VQA shops, BC LDB, private retailers)