Results from the 2025 Nationals – Merlot

Announcing the Results from the 2025 National Wine Awards of Canada

The 2025 Nationals took place in Penticton from June 21st to 25th. Today, we are pleased to announce the winners in the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot categories.. Category results will be rolling out throughout the rest of July, concluding with the Winery of the Year announcement on August 1st. We hope that you will stay tuned to follow the results!

Merlot

Category Overview by Judge HJ Cha

Go straight to the winners.

I got a free purple t-shirt from Duckhorn in Napa Valley almost a decade ago. It has #MerlotMe printed across the front. I still wear it, and every now and then, someone asks: “Are you a merlot fan?” or “Merlot, really?” It’s no surprise. Merlot’s image took a serious hit after Sideways trashed it in 2004. That’s exactly why Napa producers – including Duckhorn, known for their merlots – launched the #MerlotMe campaign in 2013: to remind people of the grape’s value and get merlot back in the conversation.

So, is merlot hot again? Not really. While ultra high-end merlots continue to emerge – mostly from Napa and Washington State – merlot as a solo act isn’t staging a major comeback. The broader consumer buzz favours other varieties, like pinot noir, gamay, cabernet franc, malbec, and sometimes offbeat varieties like touriga nacional or zweigelt.

In Canada, especially in British Columbia, the grape has been a major player in the vineyard. As of 2023, merlot was the most productive variety in the province by tonnage – though that ranking may have shifted following the severe winter damage in early 2024. And if you look at BC’s flagship red blends – such as Oculus, Nota Bene, Portfolio, Talus – they all rely heavily on merlot. But as a varietal wine, it’s often being left behind. The gap between vineyard dominance and consumer demand is growing – and it raises real questions about where merlot fits in the evolving Canadian wine landscape.

At this year’s awards, merlot earned 30 medals out of 59 entries – a medal rate of about 50%. The vast majority of those medals, around 80%, went to wines from BC.

It’s always risky to generalize, but if I had to, this year’s merlot results largely fall into two stylistic camps. The leaner, medium-bodied, fresher styles – with floral and herbal notes, lower alcohol, and vibrant acidity – mostly came from Ontario. Wines from producers like Inniskillin and Thirty Bench were typical of this approach. In contrast, the more robust, riper, full-bodied, oak-influenced styles were primarily from BC, with Nk’Mip Cellars, Painted Rock, and Corcelettes delivering textbook examples.

Of course, there were exceptions. Palatine Hills’ 2020 Reserve Overtime Merlot from the Niagara Peninsula embraced a powerful style, with structured tannins and a bold 15.5% abv. At the opposite end, Moraine’s 2023 Cliffhanger Red from Naramata offered floral perfume and juicy red fruit at just under 14% abv, approachable and easy to drink, perhaps thanks in part to a splash of pinot noir in the blend. Somewhere in the middle was Burrowing Owl’s 2022 Merlot, with judges highlighting its savoury character and balance, showing concentration and depth without excess weight.

Whether as a solo or supporting act, merlot’s role in Canadian wine remains complex. Trends shift, and it’s hard to predict when, or if, the pendulum will swing back in merlot’s favour. But if this year’s results showed anything, it’s that quality isn’t the issue. Across a wide range of styles, the best examples delivered balance, structure, and varietal character that reminded us why merlot mattered in the first place. It may not be hot, but it continues to matter. And in light of recent challenges, that appreciation feels more timely than ever.

And the winners are…