CALGARY, AB – Halifax is proud host of the 11^th annual Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards (CWA). This is Canada’s most prestigious national wine competition and celebrates wines that are 100 per cent Canadian grown, fermented, and bottled, giving our best national wineries an opportunity to showcase their excellence in winemaking.

The 2010 CWA featured more than 1,000 wines, and more than half took home medals. Registration for the 2011 CWA will open June 1, 2011 and will close on July 31, 2011. The Canadian Winery of the Year will be announced in November 2011, and full results and tasting notes will appear in the December 2011/January 2012 issue of Wine Access magazine.

The judging panel is comprised of some of Canada’s leading wine writers, journalists, sommeliers, buyers and industry professionals. The judges award medals based on a 100-point scale in 21 variety and blend categories. Judges also will name Winery of the Year, Red Wines of the Year, White Wines of the Year, Sweet Wines of the Year, Fruit Wines of the Year, Top 25 Wines from the West, and Top 25 Wines from the East.

“The Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards has become the measuring stick for Canadian winegrowers and a fabulous opportunity to present their wines to many of Canada’s most respected wine commentators on a national stage,” says Anthony Gismondi, Wine Access magazine’s editor-in-chief. “More than just an opportunity to hand out medals, it’s an opportunity to award our country’s excellence in winemaking from coast to coast.”

Please visit http://wineaccess.ca/canadian-wine-awards for more information, to register for the competition, and to browse 2010 results.

Home to Canada’s most celebrated and respected wine critics, led by editor-in-chief Anthony Gismondi, Wine Access magazine is the last word on wine in Canada. With more than 100 new reviews in each issue and wine and food tips aplenty, Wine Access embraces all levels of wine consumers equally and enthusiastically from the insanely passionate to the weekend tippler.

# # #