CALGARY, AB (Dec 6, 2011) – Wine Access magazine announces the winners of the Wine Access 2011 Canadian Wine Awards (CWA) in the December/January issue on stands today.

Now in its 11^th year, the Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards gives gold, silver and bronze medals in 22 categories. To be eligible, a wine must be grown, fermented and bottled in Canada. In 2011, the Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards attracted a record 1,117 wine entries from seven provinces and more than 300 awards were bestowed.

Held in August, tasting for the Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The 15 judges who tasted and scored wines during the four-day event included some of Canada’s top sommeliers, wine writers, bloggers and educators.

"The Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards have become so much more than just another wine competition over the last decade," says Anthony Gismondi, Wine Access editor-in-chief. "While it is an important annual snapshot of the state of Canadian wine, the results are far richer than any Polaroid or digital photo. Canadian wineries can use the CWAs to gauge their performance against the best this country has to offer. And many have performed brilliantly. This year, almost all of these wines improved for the better."

"The December/January issue of Wine Access is invaluable, because it gives Canadian wine fans a way to sift through everything that's out there and find the award-winning gems — the country's best wines and wineries," says Shelley Boettcher, Wine Access executive editor. "It's a must for anyone who is serious about drinking, collecting and enjoying Canadian wine."

In addition to a complete list of the winners, the December/January issue of Wine Access contains a complement of columns, including “What makes a premium rum premium?” and “A tasty nightcap for cold nights.”

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.

RedPoint Media Group Inc. is one of Western Canada’s largest independent publishers. Our award-winning magazines include Avenue, Calgary’s city lifestyle magazine, up!, WestJet’s in-flight magazine and Wine Access, Canada’s wine magazine, as well as custom publications for businesses, arts organizations and other clients. RedPoint has been named one of Alberta’s Top 50 Employers for three straight years and was named to the Profit 100 list of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2008 and 2009.

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