Photo courtesy of 1 Mill Road

Canada may be among the world’s smallest and youngest wine-producing nations, but it is steadily proving that it has the potential to be among the best.

Take the most recent Decanter World Wine Awards, announced in June. Of the 57 countries that submitted wines to the world’s largest international wine competition, Canada took home 347 medals and placed ninth overall, ahead of giants including Chile, New Zealand and the United States.

Of those medals, 148 were awarded to B.C. wineries, including a platinum for Inniskillin’s 2022 Riesling Icewine and five golds, for 1 Mill Road’s 2023 Chardonnay, CedarCreek’s 2022 Platinum Pinot Noir, South Kelowna Slopes, and 2022 Aspect Pinot Noir, Laughing Stock’s 2023 Blind Trust White and Mission Hill’s 2020 Quatrain.

What is remarkable is not just that Canada can compete with regions that produce many, many times more wine (Canada’s entire production is 28th in the world, slightly larger than Switzerland’s), but that it produces such a wide range of varieties and styles.

Meanwhile, B.C. wineries also shone at the 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.

Of Canada’s top 25 wineries, 15 were from B.C., including the top three: Mission Hill Family Estate, which was named Canada’s Winery of the Year for a remarkable sixth time; Laughing Stock Vineyards, which was named Best Performing Small Winery; and Meyer Family Vineyards.

And that’s not all—B.C. wineries also dazzled at the All Canadian Wine Championships. A total of 911 wines from 163 wineries were entered; of those, B.C. wineries took home three trophies as well as 20 double gold, 34 gold, 45 silver and 52 bronze  medals.

Congratulations to all the winners!

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.