Overview

The Best of Varietal Wine Judging Competition

The Best of Varietal Wine Judging Competition offers the British Columbia wine industry the opportunity to have their wines blindly judged by a panel of distinguished judges. The judges represent many sectors of the wine industry including media, trade, education, buyers, and, of course, Masters of Wine. These judges hail from BC, Alberta, and Ontario and have tasted a countless number of wines over the years; they keenly know what to taste for in a blind tasting competition. This year the Best of Varietal Judging Competition will take place on March 27^th and 28^th, 2020 at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. (this competition has been postponed)

The Best of Varietal Wine Judging Competition is produced by the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and is proudly supported by our generous sponsors: Valley First, Farm Credit Canada, ContainerWorld, and Westland Insurance.

2020 Best of Varietal Wine Judges:

This year the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is pleased to announce the following judges for the Best of Varietal Judging Competition:

1. Brian Berry – Revelry Imports
2. Sally Campa – Vino Volo
3. Mark Filatow – Waterfront Wines
4. Tom Firth – Culinaire Magazine
5. Lindsay Kaisaris – Wine Influencer
6. Kurtis Kolt – Wine Consultant
7. Jim Martin – Wine Consultant
8. Sandra Oldfield – Elysian Projects Inc
9. Tim Pawsey – Hired Belly
10. Adam Rosewarne – Sage Tapas & Wine Bar
11. Audrey Surrao – Raudz Creative Concepts
12. Shanyn Ward – Cask & Barrel

Judging Process Best Practices:

Wines are evaluated in a structured and rigorous two-stage judging process.  First, using the ‘double blind’ judging method--- meaning samples are tasted in pre-poured and numbered glasses so that judges never see a bottle.  The wines are poured by a team of 10 sommeliers in a room fully separate from the judges tasting room.  The sommeliers never speak to the judges.  In the second stage, wines that have made it through round 1 are tasted again to determine medal rankings. Judges evaluate wines by clarity, colour, aromas, flavours, body, balance, and finish.

Medals are as follows: 

Best of Show – An excellent wine with great personality that stands out among its peers

Best of Varietal - An excellent wine with great personality and classic example of its style or variety

Gold - An accomplished wine with considerable personality, character and complexity

Silver - A perfectly well-made wine, which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.

Why Enter?

1. The competition is open to all licensed British Columbia wineries and recognizes a wide variety of wine styles.
2. The judging process conforms to high standards which ensure competitive integrity, well-established wine judges, a fully double-blind judging process and proper time allotted for discussion and consensus.
3. All OWFS member wineries that enter their wines to be judged receive two complimentary tickets to the BOV Awards & Reception event.
4. The winners will be recognized at the BOV Awards & Reception at the Penticton Lakeside Resort on April 30^th, 2020.
5. Following the awards ceremony, results are immediately posted on http://www.thewinefestivals.com and distributed electronically through various media channels to our extensive consumer, trade and media database.
6. Results will be published digitally across key wine platforms including wine and food media and select newspapers.
7. Each winning wine is awarded a locally-designed medal that winners can be displayed at their winery.
8. BOV Wine Awards digital emblems will be made available electronically immediately to all winners who are OWFS members for their own online promotion. Non-members will receive their digital emblems within 7 days after the award ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why do you require multiple bottles?

We want to ensure that if a wine is faulty, we can serve a fresh sample to our judges to avoid any of wines being unfairly judged. If your wine is put forward for an award, we will use one of the additional bottles in these judging sessions. In addition, we often promote winning wines and spirits at a range of both trade and consumer events throughout the year, including at the Best of Varietal Awards & Reception on April 30^th, 2020.

2. Do you only accept grape wines?

No, we accept grape wines, fruit wines, and meads.

3. How do you ensure confidentiality?

The wines are stored in a windowless room separate from the judges, that may only be entered by the staff and the team of sommeliers. The wines are poured into numbered glasses so that the judges never see a bottle. Additionally, the judges, staff and back-room sommelier team must all sign a Confidentiality Agreement prior to the judging.

4. How many wines are judged?

It varies year to year; however, in 2019 there were over 500 wine entries into the BOV Judging Competition.

5. How many categories are there?

In 2020 there are 38 categories. Please note that there must be 5 entries for a category to be recognized.  If there are fewer than 5 entries, wineries will be notified and given the option of withdrawing the entry or entering in a related category.

If you have any other questions please reach out directly to Elan at [email protected]