|
Wine is fine but awards are better |
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 19 March 2009 |
By JESSICA MOYSE
Staff Writer
The Niagara College Teaching Winery (NCT) has many awards because of its quality and reputation since its beginning in 2002.
This year, however, it won the Oscar.
The first-place honour at the Cuvée Gala wine awards was presented to NCT for its 2007 Dean’s List Pinot Noir on Feb. 27 at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. The Cuvee wine awards are considered the Oscars of the Ontario wine industry, as they are the only awards in Canada where winners are selected by winemakers working in the field.
Each participating winery enters its three best wines into the competition and can also present two wines distributed through the LCBO to compete in the General List Red Wine and General List White Wine categories.
Included in this year’s nominees were the local wineries Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery and Vineland Estates Winery.
This year, 41 winemakers tasted more than 190 wines from 52 wineries to determine the winners. In addition, during the judging process, judges were asked to indicate if wines merited a Cuvée Gold designation, demonstrating international standards for excellence in quality.
“This is a terrific honour for our staff-and-student produced wines and is especially gratifying because Cuvée winners are selected by winemakers,” says Terence van Rooyen, Niagara College professor and winemaker.
Since opening in 2002, the wines of the NCT have captured more than 65 national and international awards including the White Wine of the Year (2002 Canadian Wine Awards – 2001 Barrel Fermented, Barrel Aged Chardonnay) and two bronze medals at the 2008 Chardonnay du Monde in Burgundy, France (2006 Dean’s List Chardonnay and 2006 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay).
Proceeds from Cuvée Weekend go to the Niagara Community Foundation and are used in its work with groups across the region. |
|
|
|
|
|
