Canadian Riesling: the top-scoring wines
From a blind tasting of 138 Canadian Rieslings sent in from across the country, Michaela Morris picks out her top 12 wines to buy.
COMING SOON
See individual overviews and the top Rieslings from:
British Columbia and Eastern Canada
It’s impossible to hold up a single grape variety as Canada’s flagship. But if I were to choose one that echoes the natural beauty and intensity of this country’s awe-inspiring landscape, it would be Riesling.
Scroll down to see Michaela Morris’ 12 highest-scoring Canadian Rieslings
Before you make the inevitable leap to Icewine, let the record show that Canadian Riesling produces far more table wine. Icewine is a rare specialty – and consumed rarely.
For this tasting, I focused exclusively on table wines, which run the gamut from bone-dry to medium-sweet.
Of the 138 Canadian Riesling samples tasted, five each came from Nova Scotia and Québec while the rest were evenly split between British Columbia and Ontario.
I tasted them all blind by province, eager to pinpoint the personality of each.
Thankfully there were few relics of the past – dilute, sugary, acerbic swill. The lion’s share was well-made and highly drinkable, if straightforward.
Those that stood out spoke articulately of a unique climate and, in some cases, a very specific place. No single style triumphed, and most tasted drier than their residual sugar suggested. The best Canadian Riesling winemakers are virtuosos of a fine balancing act.
Canadian Riesling: Michaela Morris’ top 12 wines to buy
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Cave Spring Cellars, CSV, Estate Grown Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada, 2017
From the estate’s oldest blocks, between 40 and 44 years old. The quirky 2017 vintage – cool and cloudy throughout the summer then warm and...
2017
Cave Spring CellarsNiagara Peninsula
Martin's Lane, Fritzi's Vineyard Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, 2016
Martin’s Lane’s small-lot Rieslings from three diverse estate vineyards are well-defined, distinct and solid across the board, but my nod goes to Fritzi’s. The southeast-facing...
2016
Martin's LaneOkanagan Valley
13th Street Winery, Essence Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Creek Shores, Ontario, Canada, 2018
Winemaker at 13th Street since 2009, French-born JP Colas previously worked at Domaine Laroche in Chablis. This is the second vintage of Essence, his small-batch...
2018
13th Street WineryNiagara Peninsula
Charles Baker, Picone Vineyard Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Vinemount Ridge, Ontario, Canada, 2017
Boasting vines more than 40 years old, the Picone vineyard in the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation reaches the highest elevations on the Niagara Peninsula. It is...
2017
Charles BakerNiagara Peninsula
Henry of Pelham, Speck Family Reserve Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Short Hills Bench, Ontario, Canada, 2019
One of the founding members of Ontario's Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA), the sixth-generation Speck family boasts more than 120ha in the Niagara Peninsula. This limpid,...
2019
Henry of PelhamNiagara Peninsula
Synchromesh, Storm Haven Dry Riesling, British Columbia, Canada, 2019
Synchromesh hangs its hat solidly on Riesling and the producer is among BC’s finest. After experimenting with dry styles for 10 years, owner and winemaker...
2019
Synchromesh
Benjamin Bridge, Small Lot Riesling, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2017
Sourced from grower Darryl Brown’s Black Dogs Vineyard in the Gaspereau Valley, this small-batch Riesling was picked on 31 October with 90% of the grapes...
2017
Benjamin Bridge
CedarCreek, Platinum Block 3 Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, 2019
Planted in 1991 with an unidentified Riesling clone on its own roots, CedarCreek’s Block 3 sees a slow 100-day fermentation with 25% going into neutral...
2019
CedarCreekOkanagan Valley
Kitsch, Esther’s Block Riesling, British Columbia, Canada, 2018
After selling their successful men's underwear company, Trent and Ria Kitsch planted more than 5ha in northeast Kelowna, including two Riesling parcels. The cooler Maria’s...
2018
Kitsch
Phantom Creek, Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, 2018
Master of Wine Olivier Humbrecht, of Alsace’s illustrious Domaine Humbrecht, oversees the whites at this ambitious new winery. As with Humbrecht’s own wines, the Riesling...
2018
Phantom CreekOkanagan Valley
Tawse, Carly's Block Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario, Canada, 2018
Named after owner Moray Tawse’s second daughter, Carly’s Block is 0.5ha planted in 1976. As with all of Tawse’s vineyards, this is farmed following organic...
2018
TawseNiagara Peninsula
Trius, Showcase Riesling, Ghost Creek Vineyard, Niagara Peninsula, Four Mile Creek, Ontario, Canada, 2018
Under the umbrella of national wine producing company Andrew Peller, Trius’ Showcase series features single vineyards throughout the Niagara Peninsula. In the warm Four Mile...
2018
TriusNiagara Peninsula
