A wine from Thornhaven Estates Winery in Summerland has received a platinum award at the 2018 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.
The winery’s 2015 Syrah was one of 18 platinum award winners, from a total of 1,850 wines entered from across Canada.
“We’re super excited about this,” said Jan Fraser of Thornhaven.
“It’s appreciated, with all the hard work, to be recognized in such a big way.”
This is the second time the winery has received platinum for its Syrah. At the 2014 Wine Align awards, Thornhaven’s 2012 Syrah took platinum.
“For a single family-owned winery, that’s quite impressive,” said Jason Fraser, winemaker at Thornhaven.
He added that the winery has a lot of control over how the grapes are grown and when they are harvested for the wine.
“The key to a good wine is good grapes,” he said.
Thornhaven Estates Winery was established 17 years ago and was first owned by Dennis Fraser.
In 2005, his brother Jack Fraser and Jan Fraser took over the winery, and Jay Fraser became Thornhaven’s winemaker.
Jason Fraser said the winery has worked to keep the operation at a manageable size, with grapes grown at three vineyards.
Since 2013, Thornhaven has acquired its grapes for Syrah from a grape grower in Naramata.
The winery has received other recognitions and awards in the past. In 2012, the winery received a Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence in British Columbia Wines for its 2011 Gewurztraminer.