National Wine Awards of Canada
The 20th National Wine Awards of Canada wrapped up in early October in Penticton, B.C., fittingly judging a record-setting number of wines from coast to coast. It’s been an amazing two-decade journey for the most respected and important Canadian wine competition. The week-long tasting is but a snapshot of Canadian wine, yet like old family photos, much has changed over two decades. The inaugural competition in 2001 drew 528 wines from 71 wineries, judged by eight men. In 2021, 26 judges — 14 men and 12 women — tasted 2,075 entries from more than 260 wineries.
Publishing Schedule
| Category | Publication Date |
| Sparkling | October 21, 2021 |
| Gamay | October 29, 2021 |
| Pinot Gris | October 29, 2021 |
| Rosé | October 29, 2021 |
| Chardonnay | November 1, 2021 |
| Pinot Noir | November 1, 2021 |
| Sauvignon Blanc | November 2, 2021 |
| Syrah | November 2, 2021 |
| Riesling | November 2, 2021 |
| Red Blends | November 3, 2021 |
| White Blends | November 3, 2021 |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | November 4, 2021 |
| Cabernet Franc | November 4, 2021 |
| Merlot | November 4, 2021 |
| Other Single Red Varieties | November 5, 2021 |
| Other Single White Varieties | November 5, 2021 |
| Orange Wine | November 5, 2021 |
| Cider, Ice Cider | November 8, 2021 |
| Meads, Fruit Wine & Fortified | November 9, 2021 |
| Icewine, Late Harvest | November 9, 2021 |
| Platinums | November 10, 2021 |
| Best Performing Small Winery | November 11, 2021 |
| Winery of the Year & Top 25 | November 12, 2021 |
National Wine Awards of Canada
Buyer’s Guide to Canada’s Best Wines 2020
2019 National Wine Awards of Canada
2018 National Wine Awards of Canada
Résultats complets du Concours 2018 (en français)
2017 National Wine Awards of Canada
Résultats complets du Concours 2017 (en français)
2016 National Wine Awards of Canada
2015 National Wine Awards of Canada
2014 National Wine Awards of Canada
2013 National Wine Awards of Canada
World Wine Awards of Canada
2015 World Wine Awards of Canada
2014 World Wine Awards of Canada
2013 World Wine Awards of Canada
Annual photos WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
Penticton, British Columbia, October 2021
Prince Edward County, Ontario, June 2019
Penticton, British Columbia, June 2018
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, June 2017
Penticton, British Columbia, June 2016
Niagara Falls, Ontario, June 2015
Penticton, British Columbia, June 2014
Niagara On The Lake, Ontario, June 2013
Guide to Canada’s Best Wines
Each summer since 2001, The WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada had been taking the pulse of Canada’s wine quality by assembling over 20 judges from several provinces to taste almost 2000 wines over five days. In 2020 we couldn’t safely do that. Instead, we asked Canada’s wineries to pre-select what they deemed to be their best wines, and send them to our Toronto office for tasting by five Ontario WineAlign judges and critics. We received 860 wines in 15 categories, and tasted them – physically distanced – over a five-week period in October and November. The result is a comprehensive guide to Canada’s best wines.
Canada’s Best Wines:
Cabernet Franc
Chardonnay
Riesling
Sparkling
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Pinot Gris/Grigio
Rosé
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Single White Varieties (All Others)
White Blends
Single Red Varieties (All Others)
Red Blends
Syrah
Icewine, Ciders & Other Sweet and Fortified
