A Niagara-on-the-Lake winery has been honoured with mulitple awards at one of the world's top wine competitions.
The 2019 vintage of Reif Estate's Grand Reserve Vidal Icewine won a gold medal and the Canadian Icewine Trophy at the International Wine Challenge in England.
As well, winemaker Roberto DiDomenico was shortlisted for Sweet Winemaker of the Year.
“It is always exciting to hear when any of our wines have won a gold medal at a wine competition of this calibre but to receive the news of a trophy and recognition in being short-listed for a winemaker of the year, is beyond every winemaker’s dream and truly an honour,” DiDomenico said in a media release.
In its 38th year, the International Wine Challenge is considered one of the world’s most rigorous, impartial and influential annual wine competitions.
Each year judges assess every wine “blind” and then the wines are tasted again, on at least three other separate occasions.
The judging teams include experts, buyers and influencers from the international wine industry, as well as masters of wine working to find the highest quality wines from the 52 wine-producing countries represented in the competition.
One of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s founding family wineries, Reif opened in 1982.
Now, the 125-acre vineyard planted in 1977 produces a range of varietals used in the production of all estate bottled wines, including Reif's signature Vidal Icewine, a perennial medal winner.