Mission Hill Family Estate took on the best in the world and won top honours as ‘World’s Best Pinot Noir’ in the under £15 category at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London, England.
More than 14,000 wines from 61 regions around the world were entered in the competition in 2013.
Mission Hill 2011 Martin’s Lane Pinot Noir won a coveted International Trophy— the competition’s top award and the first time a single wine variety (red or white) from any region in the world has won both a Regional Trophy for ‘Best Wine’ and an International Trophy for ‘World’s Best Wine’ at the Decanter Awards.
“I was totally shocked when I learned that our Pinot Noir was named best in the world,” said Mission Hill’s proprietor Anthony von Mandl. “I am still in awe that a wine from the still emerging Okanagan Valley could win against the best Pinot Noir in the world from Burgundy, Sonoma Country, Oregon, and New Zealand. This is a seminal moment for the entire Canadian wine industry.”
In 1994 Mission Hill Family Estate put the Okanagan Valley on the map by winning the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London for ‘Best Chardonnay in the World.’ At the time, the Master of Wine Judges were in such disbelief they retasted all of the wines and Mission Hill won a second time.
“I never could have imagined that lightning would strike twice,” continued von Mandl. “This is an incredibly proud moment for my family and the realization of my life-long dream to produce wines of exceptional quality right here in the Okanagan Valley that could stand alongside the best in the world.”
Rick Bonitati the recently appointed president of winery and vineyard estates for Mission Hill Family Estate, accepted the Trophy on behalf of the von Mandl Family.
“This is a defining moment for Mission Hill Family Estate and the entire Okanagan Valley,” stated Bonitati. “Martin’s Lane Pinot Noir was the first wine I tasted when I came to the region. I was totally impressed at the calibre of Pinot Noir produced at Mission Hill Family Estate and this was instrumental in my decision to join the von Mandl Family in their quest to produce wines of distinct character and unprecedented quality.
“I was completely overwhelmed with congratulations from many of the wine luminaries in attendance that had no idea Canada was producing top quality Pinot Noir. This international recognition and the recent WineAlign ‘Canadian Winery of the Year’ award have made for a phenomenal beginning to my time with the von Mandl Family.”
The Decanter World Wine Awards are judged by 219 individuals from 27 countries, including 75 Masters of Wine and 13 Master Sommeliers. The Decanter Trophy follows Mission Hill’s recent ‘Canadian Winery of the Year’ win at the 2013 WineAlign National Wine Awards.
