We can’t honestly say we’re surprised about this latest win; after all, CedarCreek Estate has been winning in our books for years!

Most recently, the Kelowna, B.C. winery earned the coveted Winery of the Year title at the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards—quite a feat, with more than 1,887 wines entered from 250 wineries across Canada. CedarCreek also collected an unprecedented 19 medals (you read that right) in the competition for its portfolio of luxury wines.

“CedarCreek’s award-winning wines honour the extremely rare terroir of our Home Block vineyard, a tiny parcel of land with soil diversities so unique they can be found only here and nowhere else in the world,” says proprietor Anthony von Mandl. “Tens of thousands of years in the making, these vineyard blocks were formed by not one, but two separate glacial ages combined with volcanic activity. Planted over 30 years ago and farmed with a single-vine philosophy, Home Block vineyard has proven itself to be a Grand Cru of the Okanagan. The resulting quality of the wines produced here embodies the soul of our valley and our pioneering efforts to place the Okanagan Valley on the world wine map.”

The best part? At CedarCreek, the focus on regenerative farming has transformed the winery into an actual working farm with a diverse collection of animals including Scottish Highland cows, flocks of chickens, earthworms and honeybees, to help increase biodiversity and to provide nutrients for the vines to thrive. Says winemaker Taylor Whelan, “We’ve seen dramatic increases in soil quality and corresponding improvements in vine health and fruit quality that is ultimately expressed in the quality of our wines that are the best we have ever produced.”

Want a winner dinner to go with these winning wines? Visit CedarCreek and snag a seat at its Home Block restaurant, which expertly pairs these extraordinary sips with home-style dishes featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients that embrace the bounty of the Okanagan Valley and are prepared on a wood-fired grill. (Psst: it was nominated as one of Canada’s Best New Restaurants, to boot.)

Looking to pick up an awarded bottle? Opt for the platinum-medal winners: CedarCreek’s 2020 Platinum Jagged Rock Syrah and 2019 Aspect Collection Block 5 Chardonnay. Or, go for gold with its 2020 Jagged Rock Chardonnay, 2020 Aspect Collection Block 3 Riesling, 2021 Home Block Riesling or 2021 Estate Pinot Noir Rose. Medals Silver and Bronze medals were also awarded to several vintages from CedarCreek’s Platinum and Estate Tier, wines that are elegant, balanced and reflect CedarCreek’s commitment to winemaking excellence. A complete listing of medal winners is available here. —Vita Daily

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