Susan and Jeff Vandermolen, co-owners and winemakers of the Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery in the Comox Valley have received a Best of Category/Double Gold medal for their Beaufort 2009 Ça Beautage at the 2011 All Canadian Wine Championships.
The event, established in 1981, is held annually in Windsor, Ont., and is the oldest and largest competition created specifically for Canadian wines. Each spring, all commercial wineries across Canada are invited to submit their very best wines for judging.
All wines are judged using the 100-point system. Double Gold medals are awarded to the single highest-rated wine (using an average of the aggregate judges' scores) in each category.
Asked how she felt about this recent success, winemaker and co-owner Susan Vandermolen said, “Of course we are thrilled to have received this recognition for our wines, particularly given the number of extremely high-quality wineries and their wines represented. But we are also very happy for the other Comox Valley, Vancouver Island and B.C. wineries that showed well.”
Jeff added, “Food and wine competitions are important not only for the producer, but for the regions they represent. Just take a look at what Natural Pastures Cheese successes have done to draw worldwide attention to Vancouver Island in general, and to the Comox Valley specifically.
"These recent awards are not so much a milestone, but more a reaffirmation that we continue to be on the right track, and are again proving that there is something very special going on in the Comox Valley from a food, wine and culinary perspective,” Jeff said.
Earlier in the week, Beaufort Winery was also awarded a Gold Medal for their Beaufort 2010 Blanc de Noir, and a Silver medal for their Beaufort 2009 Carpe Diem at the 2011 NorthWest Wine Summit.
The NorthWest Wine Summit, is held annually in Oregon, and is open to all types of wines and spirits made or produced in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Alberta and British Columbia.
Beaufort Winery produces approximately 1600 cases of wine per year, of which 70 per cent of the grapes will ultimately come from the Beaufort vineyard and the balance from fellow growers on Vancouver Island, and in the Okanagan Valley.
Over half of Beaufort wines are sold directly to customers at the winery, or via their online ordering system, accessible via the Beaufort website. The remainder of wine sales are to local, and Vancouver Island, restaurants and a growing number of eco-lodges. At this point in the season, Beaufort has already sold/committed close to 70 per cent of their available wines.
Susan concludes, “We’re extremely happy and fortunate to be living in the Comox Valley. This region produces some of the highest-quality, and diverse, aqua and agricultural products in the world, and is truly making its mark as culinary hot spot.
"Thanks again to the all those people who support their local producers, but especially to the people in the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island who keep coming back.”
— Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery