The Canadian Fruit Wines of the Year

It’s the time of the year when the results for the top fruit wines of the year are released. The Canadian Wine Awards (CWA) is one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the country and being named a winner is a pretty big deal for sure.

This year, we see winners from the two extremities of the country. Three wines from the far West in British Columbia and two from the far East’s Newfoundland. Both Forbidden Fruit Winery winning two (including the top award) and Rodrigues Winery from Newfoundland winning two of the top 5 awards.

Having tasted some of the medal winners, I must say that the quality level of these wines is really second to none. We are talking about high-end, world-class wines here. Quality fruit wines such as these are really helping to put Canada on the world wine map.

Congrats to the winners and for those lucky enough to be able to find some of these wines, enjoy and spread the word!

Without further ado, the best fruit wines in Canada as per the Wine Access 2010 Canadian Wine Awards are….

1. Forbidden Fruit 2009 Pomme Desirée Iced Apple, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia $30

Iced apple wines have taken top honours two years in a row. Last year’s winner was from Quebec; this one is from fruit grown in British Columbia’s Similkameen Valley. Forbidden Fruit has been growing a range of organic fruits for 30 years. This golden nectar has wonderfully pure apple expression, elegantly wrapped in subtle caramel notes. The sweetness is beautifully balanced by fine acidity.

2. Rustic Roots 2009 Santa Rosa, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia $28

3. Forbidden Fruit 2009 Plumiscuous Plum Mistelle, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia $27

4. Rodrigues N/V Raspberry, Markland, Newfoundland $25

5. Rodrigues N/V Cranberry, Markland, Newfoundland $13