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All Canadian Wine Championships, award winners. (Image Credit: All Canadian Wine Championships)
By Vernon Matters Staff
Big Wins

Okanagan wineries dominate at All-Canadian Wine Championships

Jul 6, 2026 | 2:00 PM

The Okanagan Valley is once again being recognized as one of Canada’s premier wine regions after four local wineries captured top honours at the 2026 All-Canadian Wine Championships.

Out of nearly 1,100 entries from across the country, B.C. wineries collected the bulk of national awards — including 24 double gold medals — with the Okanagan accounting for four of the competition’s nine major trophies.

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery in Oliver earned one of the night’s top distinctions, taking home Best White Wine of the Year for its 2025 Dry Rock Unoaked Chardonnay.

In Okanagan Falls, Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery was awarded Best Sparkling Wine of the Year for its 2019 The One.

Penticton’s Bench 1775 Winery also landed on the top tier, capturing Best Dessert Wine of the Year for its 2022 Whistler Sauvignon Blanc Ice.

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Lake Country’s Intrigue Wines rounded out the Okanagan’s trophy haul, earning Best Rosé Wine of the Year for its 2025 Social Rosé.

Industry observers say the results reinforce the region’s growing reputation for producing high-quality wines across multiple styles, from sparkling and rosé to icewine and Chardonnay.

Beyond the top awards, B.C. wineries also picked up dozens of gold, silver and bronze medals across a wide range of categories, underscoring the province’s depth in both large and boutique producers.

Organizers say the competition featured wineries from every major wine-producing province, with British Columbia standing out as a consistent leader in overall medal performance.

by Vernon Matters Staff
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