Anthony Gismondi: These B.C. bottles scored platinum honours at the 2026 WineAlign National Wine Awards

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A final look at the WineAlign National Wine Awards focuses on the top one per cent of the wines among some 1,800 entries: The platinum medal winners. In all, 22 platinum medals were awarded. Twenty counted toward the winery of the year standings. At the same time, two went to the library wines category or wines that fall outside the vintages eligible for winery of the year consideration.

It took 13 years for the first 12 platinum awards to appear in 2013. From the beginning, the goal was to recognize the very best wines in the competition. Over the years, the lowest-scoring platinum winner has risen from 91 points to this year’s minimum of 93 out of 100, reflecting the increasing quality of entries that earn the highest praise from the judges.

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Being awarded a platinum at the “nationals” is a big deal because, unlike most international competitions, where a relatively small “Canada” category is in play, the competition is far more intense. There were 148 Pinot Noirs and 155 Chardonnays to be tasted this year, so finishing in the top 10 of any category or earning a platinum medal is a monumental achievement and well worth bragging about.

Overall, the 2026 platinum winners tell a story of maturity across the Canadian wine industry. It is no longer surprising that the platinum tier is not defined by a single variety, region, or winemaking style, but rather by its diversity and quality, which speaks to the strength of an industry less dependent on traditional European benchmarks. Ontario and B.C. accounted for 22 of the top wines, with 13 from the east and nine from the west.

Again, for wines you might be able to buy, the B.C. highlights begin with Chardonnay, which is succeeding at all price levels. From the Naramata Bench, the full-flavoured Deep Roots 2023 Reserve Chardonnay was fourth among all the Chardonnays, while the Meyer 2023 Chardonnay Old Main Rd Vineyard, also grown on the Naramata Bench, was the highest-ranked Chardonnay at the competition.