Charles Baker Riesling Named Wine of the Year at CCC

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Photo credit: Ben Champoux

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. — For the second year in a row, Charles Baker took top honours for ‘Wine of the Year’ at the Canadian Culinary Championships (CCC). This year, judges chose the Charles Baker 2016 Picone Vineyard Riesling.

Charles Baker Riesling is a project of Charles Baker, who is also the director of Sales for Stratus Vineyards, where he collaborates with winemaker J-L Groux to produce his label. “The wine we capture from the Picone Vineyard in the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation is always consistent in depth and character. With this win following on the heels of the 2014 Picone Vineyard Riesling’s win last year, I’d say that consistency is proving its value,” says Baker.

There were 12 contenders for the top honour, each a winner in one of the regional Great Kitchen Party events or put forward in a final judging during the CCC weekend. The 2016 Stratus White also finished in the top rankings.

The silver and bronze in the Wine-of-the-Year category went to L’Acadie Vineyards’ 2007 Extended Tirage Prestige Brut and Le Clos Jordanne’s 2017 Le Grand Clos Chardonnay, respectively.

The judging was done by a panel of six wine writers, educators and sommeliers from across Canada. Along with national head judge David Lawrason, these included Janet Dorozynski of Global Affairs Canada; writers Sid Cross and Mary Bailey; and sommeliers Véronique Rivest and Tammy Brideau.

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