Barrel Samples

Marc & Mitch go down the rabbit hole of Wine Award competitions. Why hasn't a certain wine won any awards? Which awards should I pay attention to? What's the process even LIKE?! All will be answered! Links below to any wines or notable competitions or wine reviewers we mentioned!

What we were drinking: Blue Mountain 2014 Brut Reserve $49.90

Award Competitions To Watch:

Decanter World Wine Awards (Decanter)

National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC, through Wine Align)

International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC)

Ontario Wine Awards

All Canadian Wine Championships (ACWC)

Articles & Reviewers Mentioned:

Decanter 'Canada Calling' Article

David Lawrason 'Canadian Wine Insider' Article

Chris Waters Wine Reviewer

Rick VanSickle Wine Reviewer

Wines Mentioned:

Hidden Bench Felseck Chardonnay (We mentioned 2018 won best wine in the world, this is a link to current selling vintage 2020)

Closson Chase South Clos 2021 Chardonnay

Hidden Bench 2021 Pinot Noir

Thirty Bench 2019 Benchmark Red (Meritage)

Thirty Bench Small Lot Cabernet Franc (2020 won the award from Decanter, they are selling 2018 vintage right now)

Marynissen Sparkling Vidal Icewine (2020 won the award, 2022 is current vintage for sale)