The Show:

Fort Berens Winemaker Seth Jex and I are going to be talking about the just-in results of the 2026  Canadian  National Wine Awards and Fort Berens winnings plus  new releases.

GOLD – 2025 Riesling 2025 limes, green apple and grapefruit. $23.99

SILVER –  2025 Late Harvest Riesling $20.99

SILVER – 2025 Pinot Gris character and content. Outstanding. $23.99

SILVER – 2025 Rosé 100% estate grown. Pinot Noir. Merlot. Cab Franc & Cab Sauv. On lees 4 months. Elegant and Refreshing. $23.99

BRONZE – 2025 Chardonnay 30% French Oak. Remainder in tanks.  Blended after 5 months. Fresh bakery and creamy mouthfeel. $24.99

Plus

2025 Small Lot Grüner Veltliner . Yaow!    Notes of tangerine, kiwi. Fresh acidity. Texture $25.99

           The Canadian Wine Align National Wine Awards are a very important measure of the wines

           being tasted and judged.

     As are the American awards. For example –

      Fort Berens did incredibly well at the 2026 Los Angeles International Wine Competition.

           Red Gold 2022 received 95 points and the Gold Medal.

           Then went on to win Best of Class, and ultimately was named Best Red Wine of the entire competition.

Pinot Noir 2024 also received 94 points, Gold Medal, and Best of Class

Small Lot Pinot Gris received 90 points and Gold Medal.

The last time we created a feature on Fort Berens,  in the Lillooet region, Alex Nel was the winemaker and spokesperson..  Alex has moved back to South

Africa with his growing family but fair to say, these are his wines.

The new winemaker at Fort Berens Seth Jex, worked in partnership with Alex to create outstanding wines at Fort Berens.

Seth Jex

After the cold snap seasons of 2023 and 2024 both Seth and Alex continued to care for the vineyards and worked very hard to retrain the surviving vines to prepare them for 2025. Congratulations to Alex and to Seth for bringing them home.

Fortunately, 2025 was a great growing season. Mild Winter, early bud break followed by a heat wave in August, which sped up ripening. Exactly what they needed.

It took great team work .

All lead by the co-owner/founder and newly minted  CEO Heleen Pannekoek.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Little Engine

Moon Curser

Canadian National Wine Awards

Cowichan Valley Wine Month