by Malcolm Jolley

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is a Certified Good Food Fighter.

GFR’s Jamie Drummond organised this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Ontario Wine Competition. With over 300 to taste and judge on a recent Sunday morning, Jamie organized 24 judges into panels to taste the wines. I brought my camera to asks the sommeliers, restaurateurs and foodie experts about their experience and this year’s wines for the video below. Full results are just below that…

Best In Show:
2007 Chateau de Charmes Cabernet Franc “St. David’s Bench Vineyard” St. David’s Bench VQA

Best Overall White:
2009 Hillebrand “Trius” Sauvignon Blanc Niagara Peninsula VQA

Best Overall Red:
2007 Chateau de Charmes Cabernet Franc “St. David’s Bench Vineyard” St. David’s Bench VQA

Riesling Under $20
2009 Fielding Estates Riesling Niagara Peninsula VQA (Gold)
2009 Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 20 Mile Bench VQA (Silver)
2009 Cornerstone Estates Riesling Niagara Peninsula VQA (Bronze)

Riesling Over $20
2009 Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Riesling “Robert’s Block” 20 Mile Bench VQA (Gold)

“Aromatic” Whites
2009 Hillebrand “Trius” Sauvignon Blanc Niagara Peninsula VQA (Gold)
2009 Calamus Pinot Gris Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)
2009 Colaneri Pinot Grigio “Cavallone” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Bronze)

White Blends
2009 Hillebrand White Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)
2009 Stoney Ridge “Q White” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Bronze)

Oaked Chardonnay Over $20
2009 Pondview Estate Winery Chardonnay “Barrel Fermented” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)
2008 Closson Chase Chardonnay “South Clos Vineyard” Prince Edward County VQA (Bronze)

Oaked Chardonnay Under $20
2009 Stoney Ridge Chardonnay “Warren Classic” 20 Mile Bench VQA (Bronze)

Unoaked Chardonnay Under $20
2009 Black Prince Chardonnay Prince Edward County VQA (Silver)
2008 Sandbanks “Waves” Chardonnay Ontario VQA (Bronze)

Merlot Under $20
2005 Colio Estate Vineyards Merlot “Reserve” Lake Erie North Shore VQA (Bronze)

Merlot Over $20
2008 Rosewood Estates Winery Merlot “Emerald Shore Vineyard” Creek Shores VQA (Silver)
2007 Palatine Hills Merlot “Proprietors Reserve” Niagara Lakeshore VQA (Bronze)

Other Reds
2009 Peller Estates Gamay Noir “Private Reserve” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)
2007 Peller Estates Cabernet Sauvignon “Private Reserve” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Bronze)

Cabernet Franc Over $20
2007 Chateau de Charmes Cabernet Franc “St. David’s Bench Vineyard” St. David’s Bench VQA (Gold)
2008 Rosehall Run Cabernet Franc “Cold Creek” Prince Edward County VQA (Silver)
2007 Kacaba Vineyards Cabernet Franc “Reserve” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Bronze)

Pinot Noir Under $20
2009 Pelee Island Winery Pinot Noir “Alvar” Pelee Island VQA (Silver)
2008 Trumpours Mill Pinot Noir Prince Edward County VQA (Bronze)

Cabernet Franc Under $20
2009 Pelee Island Winery Cabernet Franc “Lighthouse” Pelee Island VQA (Bronze)

Pinot Noir over $20
2009 13th Street Pinot Noir “Essence” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)
2008 Rosewood Estates Winery Pinot Noir 20 Mile Bench VQA (Bronze)

Meritage
2000 Stoney Ridge Merlot/Cabernet “Chateau Cartier” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)
2007 Reif Estate Winery Cabernet/Merlot “First Growth” Niagara River VQA (Bronze)

Red Blends
2007 Southbrook Cab/Merlot/Shiraz Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)

Sparkling
NV Chateau de Charmes Brut Niagara On The Lake VQA (Silver)
NV 13th Street Winery Premier Cuvee Niagara Peninsula VQA (Bronze)

Rosé
2009 Peller Estates Rose “Private Reserve” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)

Dessert Wine
2007 Chateau des Charmes Riesling Icewine “Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard” St. David’s Bench VQA (Gold)
2008 Hillebrand Vidal Icewine “Trius” Niagara Peninsula VQA (Silver)
2008 Reif Estate Winery Vidal Icewine Niagara River VQA (Bronze)

Fruit Wines
Southbrook Vineyards Cassis (Silver)
Southbrook Vineyards Framboise (Bronze)

Malcolm Jolley is the Managing Editor of Good Food Revolution and Executive Director of Good Food Media, the non-profit organization that publishes GFR. Follow him at twitter.com/malcolmjolley.

This video was made possible through the kind support of Fortessa Canada / Schott Zwiesel.