Results from the 2024 Nationals – 2024 NWAC Mead, Maple, Fruit Wine and Fortified

Announcing the Results from the 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada

The 2024 Nationals took place in Niagara Falls from June 21st to 25th. Today, we are pleased to announce the winners in the 2024 NWAC mead, maple, fruit wine and fortified category. Category results will be rolling out throughout the rest of July, with the final Platinum, Best Performing Small Winery, and Winery of the Year announcements at the end of the month. We hope that you will stay tuned to follow the results!

We’ve asked a few of our judges to summarize their impressions of each category. Today we are pleased to present the 2024 NWAC mead, maple, fruit wine and fortified winners.

Mead, Maple, Fruit Wine and Fortified

Category Overview by Judge Janet Dorozynski, Ph.D, DipWSET

This is a small but expansive category comprising many different wine types – mead or honey wine, fruit wines and fortified wines. Each sub-category is judged separately and entries come from all across Canada. A number are made by stand alone meaderies, fruit wineries and distilleries, while others are product extensions made by traditional grape based wineries. 

It was a fascinating assortment of alcoholic beverages made from everything from raspberries, black currants, various types of honey and maple syrup. There was even a dandelion flower wine from Alberta’s Spirit Hills Flower winery.  The vermouth category is small but increasing impressive with Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers in Niagara leading the way with both sweet and dry vermouth.

Top honours and gold this year went to two raspberry based fruit wines from Maan Farms in Abbotsford, British Columbia for their raspberry table and raspberry dessert wines. 

NWAC 2024 Sponsors: