Canadian Oyster Wine Pairing Winners Announced

Left: Brent Petkau, aka The Oysterman with his fresh oysters. Art of the
Oyster Event. Middle: Codfathers Seafood Market with Kathy McLaggen from Outlandish. Right: Art of the Oyster- Oyster Creation Artisan Culinary Concepts.
Shellfish Guild with Oyster chosen for Canada’s wine competition-Marina’s
Top Drawer

(Osoyoos, BC, April 20, 2013) – The first Canada-wide oyster wine pairing competition sponsored by Codfathers Seafood Market , EAT Magazine and Walnut Beach Resort was held this week and winners were announced during a tasting event at the Oliver Osoyoos Oyster Festival.

Following in the footsteps of the American Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition which was created by Jon Rowley of Seattle’s Taylor Shellfish Farms, we knew that it was time for a Canadian Oyster Wine Competition.  Canada is one of the best countries in the world for producing oysters. With the Oliver Osoyoos Oyster festival being held in the heart of the wine country, it was the perfect venue for hosting Canada’s Oyster Wine competition. It has been an overwhelming success.”  Claire Sear, creator of the Canadian Oyster Wine Competition and EAT Magazine Okanagan Contributing Editor.

The inaugural competition saw over 80 entries divided into nine categories and was open to all wineries in Canada. The competition also included a “Wild Card” category where any alcoholic beverage produced with 100% Canadian product had the opportunity to enter.

The categories and winners for this year’s competition were:

Winner:  Kraze Legz Estate Winery 2012;     Runner-Up: Lake Breeze Vineyards 2012
Un-Oaked Chardonnay:
Winner: Poplar Grove Winery 2011;       Runner-Up:  Meyer Family Vineyards 2011
Oaked Chardonnay:
Winner: Upper Bench Estate Winery 2011;    Runner-Up:  Dostana 2010
Riesling:
Winner: Intrigue Wines, Focus Riesling 2012;    Runner-Up: Kalala Estate Winery 2010
Pinot Gris:
Winner: Blue Mountain Vineyards 2011;      Runner-Up:  Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012
Sauvignon Blanc:
Winner:  Bench 1775 2011;        Runner-Up: Clos du Soleil Fume Blanc 2012
Sparkling:
Winner:  Haywire The Bub 2011    Runner-Up:  Noble Ridge Winery The One 2009
Wild Card:
Winner: Cherry Point Estate Winery Gewurztraminer 2011  Runner-Up: Tinhorn Creek 2Bench White 2011
The judges also selected a “Best of Show” winner from all entries and the recipient of that award was:
Best of Show: Blue Mountain Vineyards  Pinot Gris 2011

Art of the Oyster- Oyster Creation Mica Restaurant.

Judging took place at Walnut Beach Resort where judges paired each wine with Marina’s Top Drawer Oysters from Outlandish Shellfish grown near Cortes Island.   www.outlandish-shellfish.com

Judges this year included Rhys Pender, Master of Wine and owner of www.wineplus.ca; Mark Filatow, Sommelier and Chef www.waterfrontrestaurant.ca and Canadian Culinary Championships British Columbia winner and finale competitor;  Audrey Surrao, WSET certified and co-owner www.raudz.com; Cassandra Anderton, food and wine writer and publisher of www.goodlifevancouver.com and Brad Cooper, Okanagan winemaker and owner Black Cloud Winery.

“The judges all agreed that this was a great competition and some of the wines showcased quite well when paired with the raw Oysters,” comments Rhys Pender, MW and owner Wine Plus+ “We all agree that 82 entries in year one was quite an impressive number for a first year competition and we look forward to watching the competition grow.”

The Oliver/Osoyoos Oyster Festival is sponsored by Walnut Beach Resort and was created to showcase the sustainable oysters produced by the farmers and guilds of the nearby West Coast together with the award-winning wines of the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association. Even oysters need a day in the sun! For more information on the festival visit online at: www.oooysterfestival.com or follow on twitter at twitter.com/cdnoysterwine.

Oyster Wine Competition Winners