Sunday, Jun. 15, 2008

B.C. ice wine wins best of show at NW Wine Summit

By Wine Press Northwest

For the second consecutive year, a wine from British Columbia has won best of show at the annual Northwest Wine Summit in Oregon.

The winner was Mission Hill Family Estate for its 2006 Select Lot Collection Riesling Icewine.

A year ago, La Frenz Winery's Merlot from British Columbia's Naramata Bench won best of show.

The Mission Hill ice wine narrowly defeated Koenig Vineyards; 2006 Cuvée Amelia Reserve Syrah from Idaho's Snake River Valley. It took the judges five votes to come down to the winner.

The best-of-category winners were:

Best red: Koenig Vineyards 2006 Cuvée Amelia Reserve Syrah, Snake River Valley.

Best white: La Frenz 2007 Viognier, Okanagan Valley.

Best rosé: Harbinger Winery Lemberger Rosé, Red Mountain.

Best sparkling: Domaine Ste. Michelle 2001 Luxe, Columbia Valley.

Best fortified: La Frenz NV Liqueur Muscat, Okanagan Valley.

Best ice wine: Mission Hill Family Estate 2006 Select Lot Collection Riesling Ice Wine.

Best dessert: Gray Monk Estate Winery 2006 Kerner, Okanagan Valley

Best Fruit: Sea Mist Winery NV Cranberry-Raspberry, Oregon.

The best-of-region winners were:

Best Washington (tie): Northstar Winery 2004 Merlot, Columbia Valley; Reininger Winery 2005 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley.

Best Oregon: Battle Creek 2006 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley.

Best British Columbia: La Frenz 2007 Viognier, Okanagan Valley.

Best Idaho: Koenig Vineyards 2006 Cuvée Amelia Reserve Syrah, Snake River Valley.

Best Montana: Trapper Creek Winery NV Chokecherry Mead.