Supplied photo

They’re celebrating over on the Skaha Bench right about now, and who can blame them?

Painted Rock Estate Winery’s flagship Red Icon 2017 has just been nominated as Wine of the Year by UK-based Decanter magazine, one of the most prestigious and widely read consumer wine publications in the world.

Each year, the Decanter team tastes more than 30,000 wines; the Painted Rock Red Icon 2017 was selected by director of sales Sonja van Praag as one of her top three wines tasted in 2020. The Red Icon is a Bordeaux blend crafted by winemaker Gabriel Reis and Bordeaux-based consultant Alain Sutre from grapes planted on the Skaha Bench in 2005. It retails for about $60.

“I could not be more thrilled. I’ve always said that a wine’s brand and price point has to be earned. It can never be assumed,” says Painted Rock proprietor John Skinner. “This wonderfully affirms that we are on the right track.”

Winners will be announced in the January 2021 issue of the magazine.

Vitis Magazine

Vitis is is an indispensable seasonal guide for vintners, sommeliers and weekend imbibers alike that is dedicated to British Columbia’s rapidly evolving wine culture.