Mission Hill Winery named Canadian Wine Producer of the Year

Mission Hill Winery continues to attract international accolades.

The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC)has chosen the West Kelowna winery as the 2011 Canadian Wine Producer of the Year.

“Having started back in 1981 with a vision of producing wine that could stand alongside the best in the world, it is almost overwhelming to see this dream has become reality,” says Mission Hill Family Estate Proprietor Anthony von Mandl, who was surprised with the win in front of 600 international wine luminaries.

“This award represents a profound achievement for everything our winemaking and vineyard team has accomplished at Mission Hill Family Estate,” says Anthony von Mandl.

In 2006, von Mandl was the first Canadian appointed as the president of the IWSC, following in the footsteps of some of the best known winery owners in the world. Wolf Blass, Robert Mondavi, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and Marchese Piero Antinori have all led the competition.

The IWSC was founded in 1969 and is considered the most prestigious competition of its kind in the world.

In addition to the 2011 IWSC Trophy for ‘Canadian Wine Producer of the Year’, Mission Hill Family Estate won 19 individual medals, including: Gold Medals for the 2009 Reserve Riesling Icewine, 2005 Select Lot Collection Riesling Icewine and 2009 Reserve Vidal Icewine.