BC Lieutenant Governor Wine Awards coming back to Kelowna

Photo: Contributed

The wine will be flowing in the Okanagan this fall when a major provincial competition is held in Kelowna.

Okanagan Wine Festivals Society announced this week it will once again host the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards at Manteo Resort. The event will be held Sept. 23-25, and it will feature a panel of 17 judges that will determine the best of B.C. wine.

“Our impressive panel speaks to the veracity of this competition,” Okanagan Wine Festivals Society general manager Elan Morris said in a press release. “Everyone involved in the process is excited to see this year’s wine entries and, of course, which wine will earn the distinction of wine of the year. We want to see every one of our incredible B.C. wineries have the opportunity to show off their wines.”

Last year’s wine of the year award went to Deep Roots Winery. More than 700 wines were judged during last year’s competition.

“This competition is certainly a driving integral factor in the building of confidence for the thriving B.C. wine industry,” veteran judge Sid Cross said. “The global recognition it is now receiving has been the credibility of these important awards. I am so excited to be invited back with even more enthusiasm than ever to seek out new B.C. wine discoveries.”

Wineries can submit their entries here.

This year’s judges are:
• Alder Yarrow – top U.S. wine blogger, author (New York)
• Véronique Rivest – 2nd place world’s best sommelier 2013 (Gatineau, Que.)
• Gurvinder Bhatia – Quench Magazine, writer and editor (Edmonton)
• Rhys Pender, MW – master of wine and winemaker (Kelowna)
• Brad Royale – Kitten Swish Wine, sommelier and wine judge (Calgary)
• Emily Walker – Naramata Inn, sommelier and wine buyer (Summerland)
• Michaela Morris – Decanter, international wine writer and sommelier (Vancouver)
• DJ Kearney – Terminal City Club, sommelier and wine educator (Vancouver)
• Sid Cross – Chefs Table Society of B.C., international wine writer and judge (Vancouver)
• Sebastien Le Goff – Cactus Club Canada, 2008 sommelier of the year (Vancouver)
• Iain Philip – Taste Magazine, writer and sommelier (Vancouver)
• Matt Landry – Stable House Bistro, 2019 B.C. sommelier of the year (Vancouver)
• Tim Pawsey – HiredBelly.com, wine and food writer, wine judge (Vancouver)
• Kurtis Kolt – Top Drop Canada, sommelier and wine writer (Vancouver)
• Sally Campa – Vino Volo, sommelier (Vancouver)
• Mark Filatow – Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar, sommelier, executive chef (Kelowna)
• Jason Yamasaki – Joey Restaurants, 2014 B.C. sommelier of the year (Vancouver)