This winter thirty wines received the Judge’s Award for Best Value at the 2009 InterVin International Wine Awards, an intensive three-day blind tasting competition staged in September at White Oaks Resort & Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The special citation was granted to wines receiving high scores from InterVin judges that retail for less than $15. The 30 best value winners — six of which are priced under $10 per bottle — represent a dynamic array of wines from Canada, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Italy, Spain, South Africa and United States.

“Given that eight out of 10 bottles of wine sold in this country retails for less than $10, it’s clear that Canadian wine lovers embrace value,” says Christopher Waters, editor of VINES Magazine and head judge of the InterVin International Wine Awards. “As a result, we thought we would celebrate these exceptional wines that represent true value.”

Internationally acclaimed sommeliers Zoltan Szabo and Jamie Drummond, respected wine writers Margaret Swaine and Daenna Van Mulligen and celebrated winemakers Darryl Brooker and Craig McDonald were part of a 15-member judging panel that assessed more than 750 wines during the InterVin International Wine Awards competition.

The lineup includes a gold medal winning Black Currant wine from Moon Shadows Estate Winery in Haliburton, expressive aromatic whites from Skimmerhorn Winery and Vineyard and Artisan Wine Company, producer of the White Bear and Rigamarole labels, from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and robust red wines from Hardys Bankside and Stamp of Australia labels from Down Under.

Full results from the competition are available online at intervin.ca.

Guests at the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, which ran Nov. 19-22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, had several opportunities to sample and experience InterVin winning wines. A special gala Tutored Tasting session featured 10 of the top scoring wines. Tickets were $80 and available via foodandwineexpo.ca. Additionally the Connoisseur’s Corner Stage presented tastings of some of the top value wines throughout the Expo.

InterVin International Wine Awards Judges Choice Best Value Wines

Argento Wine Co. 2008 Malbec Argentina
Argento Wine Co. 2008 Pinot Grigio Argentina
Artisan Wine Co. 2007 Rigamarole White Okanagan Valley
Artisan Wine Co. 2007 Sonora Ranch Chardonnay Canada
Artisan Wine Co. 2008 White Bear Wines Riesling Okanagan Valley
Artisan Wine Co. 2008 White Bear Wines Sauvignon Blanc Okanagan Valley
Banrock Station 2009 Unwooded Chardonnay Australia
Calona Vineyards 2008 Artist Series Unoaked Chardonnay Okanagan Valley
Calona Vineyards 2007 Artist Series Merlot Okanagan Valley
Farnese 2007 Casale Vecchio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Italy
Farnese 2008 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Italy
Farnese 2008 Sangiovese Italy
Gerardo Cesari 2008 Chardonnay Italy
Hardys 2007 Bankside Shiraz Australia
Hardys 2008 Stamp of Australia Shiraz Cabernet Australia
Hernder Estate Wines 2007 Gewurztraminer Niagara Peninsula
Inniskillin Wines 2007 Varietal Series Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula
Inniskillin Wines 2008 Reserve Riesling Niagara Peninsula
Moon Shadows Estate Winery 2008 Black Currant Canada
Mission Hill Family Estate 2008 Five Vineyards Pinot Blanc Okanagan Valley
Nederburg 2007 Winemaster’s Reserve Shiraz South Africa
Osborne 2006 Montecillo Crianza Spain
Peller Estates Winery 2007 Heritage Series Riesling Niagara Peninsula
Prospect Winery 2007 Fats Johnson Pinot Noir Okanagan Valley
Reif Estate Winery 2007 Riesling Late Harvest Niagara Peninsula
Sonoma Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay California
Skimmerhorn Winery & Vineyard 2008 Gewurztraminer Okanagan Valley
Skimmerhorn Winery & Vineyard 2008 Pinot Gris Okanagan Valley
Viña Santa Rita 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Reserva Chile
Wolf Blass 2008 Yellow Label Riesling Australia