Oliver’s Cassini Cellars was the only winery to take home two of the prestigious Lieutenant-Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines. Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon (left) visited all 12 winning wineries to present the awards. To her right are owner Adrian Cassini and staff: Candace Moon, Janet Gordon and Ron Douglas. (Keith Lacey photo)

Several of the smaller, family-run wineries from the South Okanagan shared the spotlight with the bigger estate wineries as the 2017 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines were handed out last week.

Judith Guichon, the province’s Lieutenant Governor, and numerous dignitaries from Government House in Victoria, visited all 12 of the B.C. wineries that captured awards late last week.

For the first time in history, all 12 wines that took home hardware were from the Okanagan Valley.

This year, a total of 486 wines were submitted by 132 wineries for judging.

These wine awards were established in 2003 by Iona Campagnola, then B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor.

A panel of industry leaders serve as judges for this annual contest and use a “blind taste test” to determine the winners and this year several small wineries came out on top.

Oliver’s Cassini Cellars was the only winery to take home two of the prestigious wine awards.

In fact, Oliver was the award-winning region as five of the 12 winning wines hailed from this area.

Wines submitted had to be from 100 per cent B.C. grown grapes and produced in the province to be eligible.

“The winning wines in 2017 represent the best from our province,” said Guichon. “The hundreds of exceptional wines entered each year make it a challenge to select just 12 winners.”

Cassini Cellars became the first winery in the history of this awards competition to have two different wines selected as winners, said Guichon.

Their winning wines included the Aristocrat Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 and Nobilus Merlot 2013.

Adrian Cassini, the owner of Cassini Cellars, said he and his staff were thrilled to have captured two awards.

“I’m very happy to be one of the winners this year,” he said.

It takes a team effort to produce quality wine and his hard-working staff that includes everyone who works in the vineyards to winemakers and tasting room servers share in this prestigious award, said Cassini.

“I really want to thank my team,” he said. “I would also like to thank my family for helping me make my dreams come true.”

Guichon said Cassini Cellars has captured Lieutenant-Governor wine awards in the past and has proven itself to be an exceptional winery producing world-class wine.

“Congratulations to all of your team,” she said.

Bruno Kelle and his partner Stella Schmidt, co-owners and winemakers with their small, family-run Castoro de Oro Estate Winery, were thrilled to win an award for their Crimson Rhapsody 2014.

Kelle said being able to produce grapes in the best winemaking region in the country is a big reason why he and his small team of employees are being recognized with important awards like this.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is the best place in Canada to grow grapes,” he said. “The end results show up in the bottle.”

Kelle also thanked his team of employees for working hard to produce quality grapes and wine and said they all share in winning this award.

Located only a stones-throw away from Castoro de Oro Estate Winery is Maverick Estate Winery, which is owned and operated by Bertus Albertyn and his wife Dr. Elzaan de Witt. They emigrated to this region from their native South Africa back in 2009.

They captured their award for their Bush Vine Syrah 2014.

Albertyn also said being able to produce quality grapes is the key to success and local winemakers are blessed to live and work in a region blessed with great weather and soil for growing grapes.

He also thanked his small team of employees for their dedication and commitment to excellence.

“Without them, none of this would be possible,” he said.

Guichon praised Albertyn and his staff for producing outstanding wine and called the winning Bush Vine Syrah “art in a bottle.”

The other winners in the 2017 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in B.C. Wines included:

• Burrowing Owl Estate Winery from Oliver – Cabernet Franc 2014.

• Gray Monk Estate Winery from Lake Country, Odyssey White Brut 2014.

• The Hatch Winery from West Kelowna, Crown and Thieves The Broken Barrel Syrah 2013.

• Howling Bluff Estate Winery from Naramata, Century Block Pinot Noir 2013.

• Kitsch Wines from Kelowna, Riesling 2015.

• Noble Ridge Vineyards and Winery from Okanagan Falls, The One Sparkling Wine, 2012.

• Perseus Winery, Penticton, Invictus 2013.

• Upper Bench Estate Winery from Penticton, Upper Bench Estate Chardonnay 2015.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times

Co-owners Bruno Kelle (left) and his partner Stella Schmidt (right) of Castoro de Oro Winery received the Lieutenant-Governor’s B.C. Wine Award for the winery’s 2014 Crimson Rhapsody from Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon. (Keith Lacey photo)

Co-owners Bertus Albertyn (centre) and his wife Dr. Elzaan de Witt (left) of Maverick Estate Winery received the award from Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon (right) for their Bush Vine Syrah 2014. (Keith Lacey photo)