Nova Scotia wines win Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence

Lieutenant Governor J.J. Grant handed out awards to the best wines in Nova Scotia today.

Three wines receivedthe Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Nova Scotia Wines at a ceremony held this afternoon at Government House in Halifax.

The three recipients are Vintage Cuve Ros 2011 from L'Acadie Vineyards, the Riesling Icewine 2013 from Domaine de Grand Pr and the Riesling 2013 from Gaspereau Vineyards.

"I am delighted to play a part in recognizing the wine industry in our province," said Lt.-Gov. Grant.

"I offer my sincere congratulations to all the award recipients and look forward to presenting each with their medals."

An independent panel of experts chose the wines through a blind tasting. Members of the Winery Association of Nova Scotia and Taste of Nova Scotia could submit up to three commercially available wines made with 100 per cent Nova Scotia content.

Gina Haverstock of GaspereauVineyards says awards like these help promote Nova Scotia wines.

"Nova Scotia is a great industry," she said.

"It's a younger industry,so anything that promotes a younger industry and shows how good we are is just wonderful."

Local wine, local benefits

Heather Negus, adigital communications specialist forthe NSLC,saidlocal wines accounted for$11 million in salesin the last year.

"Ithink that Nova Scotians are really looking to experience wine in Nova Scotia," she said.

"We do a lot of product tastings in store to highlight what's happening with wine in Nova Scotia and to give our customers a chance to get familiar with the products."

Lt.-Gov. Grant created the award last year.Today's ceremony also included the unveiling of the new badge for the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Nova Scotia Wines and the new Wine Award Gold Medal.

"People really like that experience to visit Nova Scotia wineries to be a part of that,"said GillianMainguy, manager of the Winery Association of Nova Scotia.

"Whether they're bringing visitors from away and letting them know, this is our wine. This is what we can do really well."