Scott MacDonald, left, manager of Horticulture and Specialty Products for BASF Canada Inc., and Debbie Inglis, right, presented Kevin Donohue with a Cuvée Award of Excellence in Viticulture. Photo: St. Catharines Standard

Grape-growing and winemaking graduates of Brock’s Oenology and Viticulture (OEVI) program won big at the 23rd annual Cuvée Gala on March 4 at the Niagara Fallsview Casino.

OEVI grads Emma Garner, Angela Kasimos, Rob Power, Tom Green and Jason Roller won eight Cuvée gold awards while Gordon Robert and Fred DiProfio both garnered second place finishes out of a total of 22 awards.

Alumnus Kevin Donohue, vineyard manager at Colio Estate Wines, was presented with a Cuvée Award of Excellence in Viticulture, which recognizes an individual who promotes excellence in their vineyard practices. The award was presented by the sponsor BASF Canada Inc. It was also presented by this year’s Grape King, Debbie Inglis, a grape grower who is also the director at Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI).

“Kevin is an ideal recipient of this distinguished award,” Inglis said. “He is an influential individual whose knowledge and hard work helps advance the Ontario grape and wine industry.”

Cuvée is a wine competition whereby Ontario’s winemakers submit a selection of their finest wines to be judged by a panel of their peers.

Here’s a list of Brock alumni who won awards in various categories:

• Red wine: Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2007 (Emma Garner)
• White wine: Riverview Cellars Winery, Gewürztraminer 2009 (Angela Kasimos)
• Limited edition white wine: Creekside Estate Winery, Queenston Road Vineyard Reserve Viognier 2009 (Rob Power)
• LCBO red wine: EastDell Estates Winery, Black Cab 2009 (Tom Green and Jason Roller)
• Limited edition sweet wine (2nd place): Stoney Ridge Cellars, Gewürztraminer Icewine Barrel Fermented Barrel Aged 2009 (Gordon Robert)
• Chardonnay (2nd place): Pondview Estate Winery, Barrel Fermented/Aged Chardonnay 2009 (Fred DiProfio)
• Gewürztraminer: Riverview Cellars Winery, Gewürztraminer 2009 (Angela Kasimos)
• Sauvignon Blanc: Creekside Estate Winery, Creekside Estate Vineyard, Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (Rob Power)
• Viognier: Creekside Estate Winery, Queenston Road Vineyard Reserve Viognier 2009 (Rob Power)
• Cabernet Franc: Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2007 (Emma Garner)

Related stories:
• Inglis receives top grape-growing honour | The Brock News
• Brock grads win big at Cuvée wine awards | The Brock News