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Okanagan Valley reds and Chardonnays dominate the top-scoring wines, but several other regions caught the judges’ attention, led by the Naramata Bench
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The 2026 Wine Align National Wine Awards results are now available online at winealign.com. Given the challenges of selling Canadian wines outside their province of production, today’s column highlights the standout B.C. performances at the awards, but Ontario’s performance was equally impressive. It will take some sleuthing on your part to find all the stars, so our advice is to start at the winery website, then the private store market, and finally try the B.C. liquor stores website.
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Little Engine leads all B.C. entries with its 2022 Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir at 93.35 points, putting an exclamation point on the Naramata Bench’s versatility. Chardonnay continues to up its game, with Meyer, Deep Roots, 50th Parallel, and O’Rourke all appearing in the top 20. Following its 2025 Best Performing Small Winery of the Year award, Laughing Stock placed three wines in the 2026 B.C. top 20 list: Blind Trust Red, Syrah, and Portfolio.
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West Coast Table
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While Okanagan Valley reds and Chardonnays dominate the top-scoring wines, several other regions caught the judges’ attention, led by the Naramata Bench, located on the east side of Okanagan Lake just north of Penticton, the Golden Mile Bench just south of Oliver, Lake Country north of Kelowna, Lillooet, west of Kamloops, and the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
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The top 10 wines by score, in order, were Little Engine 2022 Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir, Meyer 2023 Chardonnay Old Main Rd Vineyard, Roche Wines 2023 Viognier Marsanne, Laughing Stock 2023 Blind Trust Red, Laughing Stock 2023 Syrah; Mayhem 2025 Syrah Gill Estate Vineyard, Deep Roots 2023 Reserve Chardonnay, Nk’Mip Cellars 2022 Qwam Qwmt Cabernet, Tinhorn Creek 2023 Reserve Cabernet Franc, and 50th Parallel 2022 Chardonnay.
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Better farming and smarter decisions inside the winery are definitely helping to shape the future. In terms of sub-regions and/or valleys, once considered by some to be overkill designations, the results show steady progress, with more and more sub-GIs poised to become important cogs in the B.C. wine story. In a small way, these wines of place also attract tourists who are likely to spend money on wine and in restaurants and accommodations, indirectly injecting the local economy with much-needed funding.
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The Naramata Bench is one such area where wine diversity is growing in leaps and bounds. Among the top wines scoring 90 points or higher were Pinot Noirs from Little Engine Vineyard Selection 2022, Spearhead Jagged Ridge 2023, and Roche 2022; Chardonnays from Meyer 2023 Old Main Road Vineyard and Deep Roots 2023 Reserve. Also impressive were Van Westen 2022 Voluptuous, a Merlot Cabernet Franc blend, and a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend under the Frenz Ensemble 2023 label. Adding to the best were the Moraine 2022 Syrah, Upper Bench 2025 Riesling, Terravista Albarino, its sister blend, Fandango (an Albarino and Verdejo blend), and Roche Wines 2023 Viognier Marsanne. The list goes on.
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The big hits from the Golden Mile Bench, B.C.’s first sub-appellation and the lower slopes just south of the town of Oliver, were the Mayhem 2025 Syrah Gill Estate Vineyard and the Rust Wine Co. 2022 Syrah South Rock Vineyard and Tinhorn Creek 2023 Reserve Cabernet Franc, while Nk’Mip Cellars 2022 Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon chimed in from Osoyoos. Just when you were thinking red wine, the Culmina 2025 Unicus, made with Grüner Veltliner, jumped into the fray along with the Maverick 2025 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon.
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Lake Country stretched its Chardonnay legs at the awards, with two O’Rourke Family Estate labels standing out: the 2020 Chardonnay, the 2020 Chardonnay Clone 96, and the 50th Parallel 2022 Chardonnay. Finally, tiny Lillooet put on a show with two labels from Fort Berens: 2025 Riesling and the 2024 Riesling Reserve Wild Ferment, while from Vancouver Island the Unsworth 2020 Cuvée De L’île Blanc de Blancs entered the top sparkling wine fray.
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The Wine Align National Wine Awards of Canada is only a yearly snapshot of the Canadian wine industry, but, viewed with the hindsight of 25 years, the results continue to inspire anyone with a keen interest in Canadian wine.
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Weekend wine picks
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Monte Creek Living Land Series Organic Sparkling 2025, Thompson Valley, B.C.
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$24.99 | 89/100
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UPC: 775412900544
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The Thompson Valley, once considered on the cold edge of cool-climate regions, is proving to be a reliable bet for wineries seeking cool-climate vineyard sites. This Prosecco-like sparkler, made using the Charmat method, is full of fresh peach and pineapple aromas and green apple and Bosc pear flavours on the palate. The mousse is light, if a touch foamy, but otherwise fun. Best of all, the lower pressure allows it to be bottled under a handy twist-off screwcap. This is best served on the patio, well chilled, with favourite spicy summer bites..
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Tedeschi Capitel Tenda Soave Classico 2022, Soave, Verona, Veneto, Italy
$22.99 | 89/100
UPC: 08019171000018
At Tedeschi, the Garganega comes from 35-year-old vines in the commune of Monteforte d’Alpone, the oldest area of Soave. It opens with earthy honey and elderflower. On the palate, crisp lemon, pear, light lees, apricot, and nervy acidity dominate. Lean yet concentrated, it finishes clean with a mix of almonds and starfruit — a perfect white for West Coast shellfish. It is on sale until Aug. 29.
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Blue Mountain Estate Cuvée Pinot Gris 2025, Okanagan Valley
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$24.90 | 91/100
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UPC: 626452201231
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Blue Mountain continues to work the richer, more structured side of Pinot Gris, with old-vine fruit, native yeast, partial neutral oak, and lees aging adding weight and shape. The 2025 is whole-cluster pressed from 30-year-old vines. The nose shows bright, vivid fruit character and excellent acidity. and balance. The palate is full citrus, mandarin, white flowers, dense orange, lemon, apple, spice and minerality. It will keep through 2028 with ease.
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Fort Berens Riesling 2025, Lillooet
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$23.99 | 91/100
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UPC: 626990125686
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The signature white of Fort Berens continues to showcase the strengths of the Lillooet region. It begins with pristine, pure lime and apple. On the edge of off-dry, the acid and fruit are well balanced throughout, with notes of apricot, peach, and lime. Another versatile food wine, this consistently polished riesling also caught the judges’ attention at the 2026 National Wine Awards. Drink or hold, there is no rush.
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Château Pesquié Ventoux Terrasses Rouge 2023, Ventoux, Southern Rhône Valley, France
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$21.99 | 90/100
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UPC: 3760149591032
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The Pesquié Terrasses Rouge is a mainstay in the French section of government liquor stores, and it’s no secret why. It is a very good wine, and the price is equally attractive. The blend is 60/40 Grenache/Syrah. The nose is black raspberry and mulberry, while the palate is juicy, full-flavoured, easy-drinking, meaty, and earthy, with a stony mineral undertone. Think pizzas, barbecued kebabs, charcuterie plates, and more.
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B.C. wine of the week
Painted Rock Syrah 2022, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley
$49.99 | 93/100
UPC: 00626990105855
The thing about a top vintage like 2022 is the level some of the best sites can reach, which is not always attainable in lesser vintages. Expect a very fine Syrah, from its sophisticated bouquet of plums and earth to its Rhône-esque, savoury, mineral-driven, licorice-cracked pepper palate. Sleek and silky, it has all the earmarks of a wine you can cellar for more than a decade, yet its balance suggests you can enjoy it now — a fragrant, generous but restrained wine selling at a value price.
Value wine of the week
Synchromesh Riesling Storm Haven Vineyard 2025, Okanagan Falls
$30 | 93/100
UPC: 626990226994
Storm Haven ranks among Canada’s top Riesling sites, with wines crafted by Alan Dickinson. The vineyard sits at the base of Peachcliff Mountain, on a mountain-pass outflow, combining soils from the gravelly Gibson Block and the shattered slate of the Golddigger Block. Minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery, along with staged fruit harvests, allows the site to shine. The 2025 vintage is a remarkable wine, bursting with juicy pear, tangerine, and Honeycrisp apple, accented by hints of desert scrub and bright citrus acidity. The finish is mineral-rich, with subtle hints of ginger that add complexity to this delightful wine. Once again, it evokes the Mosel region. Perfect to drink now or cellar indefinitely. Super value.
Calendar Items
The public is invited to attend the GranVino Wine Walk in South Granville on Aug. 15, from 12 to 6 p.m. Guests can stroll from the Granville Street Bridge to 16th Avenue, sampling wines and ciders along the way. Tickets include up to 15 tastings, a limited-edition GranVino tasting cup, and a tote bag. Public plazas will feature live DJ sets, lawn games, promotions, and giveaways. Tickets are $95 plus fees; participants must be 19-plus. Participating wineries and cideries include Country Vines Winery, Gate 22 Winery, Gray Monk, Hester Creek, Kismit, La Stella, Lakeboat, Le Vieux Pin, Mythology Wines, Red Rooster, Sage Hayward, Sea Cider, Twin Island Cider, and Terravista. Tickets at eventbrite.ca
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Orofino Winery has introduced The Thursday Table, a relaxed pop-up dining event featuring rotating dishes by Tanya and Amanda at All About Charcuterie and seemingly much more. You will enjoy a variety of dishes, including pizza baked in the cob oven; Vietnamese-style subs paired with a tangy vermicelli noodle salad; loaded nachos; barbecue ribs cooked on the Asado grill with slaw and homemade cornbread; and lamb pops with mushroom risotto. The winery offers several wines by the glass to complement the food, along with a featured cocktail or beer. The event takes place Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. in the courtyard, except on Aug. 27. No reservations or formalities — just good food, wine, a relaxed atmosphere, and scenic views.
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