Okanagan vineyard wins big at Cascadia Wine Competition

OKANAGAN FALLS – Being recognized on the international stage is starting to become the norm for Okanagan winemakers.

Wild Goose Vineyards, located in Okanagan Falls, took home eight gold medals from the fifth annual Cascadia Wine Competition held in Hood River, Oregon from March 21 to March 23.

“We are beyond thrilled – It was truly a team effort from the vineyards right through to putting the wines into the bottle,” winemaker Hagen Kruger said in a media release. “This was also the last vintage my father ever experienced so a great tribute to him."

Bringing home the top award, out of 948 entries, for Best in Show was the winery’s 2016 Pinot Gris. The wine also took home a Best in Class award as well as Best White Wine.

One Californian wine journalist posted on social media, “Let the countdown begin: How long before we see the headline: Okanagan Falls – The Next Napa?”

This was the first year a Walla Walla, Washington wine did not taken home the award for Best in Show, the release says. B.C. wineries took home 45 gold medals.

Wild Goose Vineyards also won awards for its 2016 Gewurztraminer, 2016 Mystic River Gewurztraminer, 2015 Red Horizon Meritage, 2016 God’s Mountain Riesling, 2016 Riesling, 2016 Rosé and 2016 Autumn Gold.

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