Who needs a BF, when I have wine...

Picking out a bottle of wine can be a daunting task, especially if you’re trying to impress your friends, family or someone special with your superb wine selecting choices. If you’re like me, when picking out a bottle of wine, you either a) make a bee-line to your one and only go-to wine that’s relatively cheap and tasty and has never let you down… or b) decide to take a risk by trying something completely different and then spend the next 45 minutes roaming up and down the aisles like an idiot attempting to understand labels that don’t make much sense while trying to narrow down a vast selection of wines that seem endless.

To avoid this dreadfully embarrassing situation from recurring on a regular basis, I’ve decided to be a bit more prepared before venturing out on my next wine selecting excursion. After completing the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Foundation Certificate instructed by sommelier extraordinaire James Cluer that involved an impressive amount of tastings that regrettably had to be spit out, he confirmed that my fear of picking out the perfect bottle of wine was extremely universal and tremendously easy to overcome.

To start he suggested to look for labels and signs that mark award-winning wines. These wines have been chosen by professionals in the field and will usually have a brief description of the taste, what to expect and food pairing notes. As well, don’t be too proud to ask for help (my biggest problem), especially at a private or specialty wine shop. The employees love giving suggestions and will make the process painless.

I’ve researched (and tried more than I'd like to admit) some amazing award-winning wines from The 2009 Okanagan International Wine Festival and The 2009 Vancouver Magazine Wine Awards and these were the wines that won over the most critical of judges:

Best of the Whites:

Summerhill Cipes Brut, BC

Lake Breeze Seven Poplars Sauvignon Blanc, BC

Thornhaven Gewurztraminer, BC

Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Gris, BC

Villa Maria Private Bin Unoaked Chardonnay, New Zealand

Wild Goose Pinot Gris, BC

Best of the Reds:

See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir, BC

Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir, California

Township 7 Merlot, BC

KWV Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa

Burrowing Owl Meritage, BC

Sumac Ridge Black Sage Vineyard Merlot, BC

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan SunRock Shiraz, BC

Cin Cin!