A Summerland winery has won a provincial award for one of its top vintages.
On July 25, Lieutenant Governor Steven Point presented a 2012 Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence in British Columbia Wines to Thornhaven Estates Winery.
The winning wine was the 2011 Gewurztraminer.
“Winemakers in British Columbia are not afraid to experiment with influences and techniques from around the world,” said Michael O’Connor, president of the Government House Foundation.
The foundation administers the awards on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor.
Jason Fraser, winemaker at Thornhaven, said the award is the result of hard work from many people.
“It is a great honour to win the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in British Columbia Wines,” he said. The grape growers, winery staff members and others involved in the winemaking process all helped to produce the wine.
Point said he has tasted the various wines which were submitted for the awards, “but what’s been even more delightful is to meet the people,” he added. “It’s great to see these tremendous achievements.”
The awards were started in 2003 to celebrate wines made from British Columbia grapes.
In the first year, 30 wineries entered. This year, 347 wines from 94 British Columbia wineries were entered. Of these, 11 wines from 10 wineries received awards.