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Wild Goose Vineyards wins Best in Class

Wild Goose Vineyards, in Okanagan Falls, took Best in Class at the Cascadia Wine Competition
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The crew at Wild Goose Vineyards with their lineup of wines that won medals at the Cascadia Wine Competition, including a 2016 Pinot Gris that won Best in Class. Submitted photo

Wild Goose Vineyards’ 2016 Pinot Gris took top honours at the fifth annual Cascadia Wine Competition held in Hood River, Oregon with Best in Class, Best White Wine and the ultimate prize Best in Show.

In addition to topping the 948 entries in the Best in Show category for the Pinot Gris, Wild Goose wines garnered eight gold medals, including three best in class awards and four double gold medals, covering the 2016 Gewurztraminer, 2016 Mystic River Gewurztraminer, 2015 Red Horizon Meritage, 2016 God’s Mountain Riesling, 2016 Riesling, 2016 Rosé, and 2016 Autumn Gold.

“We are beyond thrilled,” said Winemaker Hagen Kruger. “It was truly a team effort, from the vineyards right through to putting the wines into the bottle. This was also the last vintage my father ever experienced and a great tribute to him. We could not be happier.”

Long-time organizers of the competition and Washington based wine writers, Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue, said the Wild Goose win marks the first time a Walla Walla, Wash. wine has not taken the Best in Show award.

The Cascadia Wine Competition has been held for the last five years in Oregon State and invites wines from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia to compete. The 21 judges from across the U.S. and Canada and from varying roles within the wine industry, including journalists, Master of Wine and other winemakers.

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

In total B.C. wineries amassed 45 gold medals including Hillside Winery, Stag’s Hollow Winery and Vineyard, Bella Wines, Culmina Family Estate Winery (2016 R&D White Blend, double gold), Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery, JoieFarm Winery, Perseus, Tightrope, Bench 1775, Church and State Wines, Lake Breeze Vineyards, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Upper Bench Estate Winery and others. For the full list of winners click here.