Mission Hill’s pinot noir internationally lauded

Steven Spurrier, chairman of the Decanter World Wine Awards, presents the International Trophy to Rick Bonitati, president of Winery & Vineyard Estates at Mission Hill Family Estate.

LONDON, England—B.C.’s Mission Hill Family Estate won top honours, earning the title 'World's Best Pinot Noir' in the under-£15 category, at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London, England.

Mission Hill 2011 Martin's Lane Pinot Noir won the competition’s top award, an International Trophy. According to an Oct. 3 news release, this is the first time a single wine variety from any region has won both a Regional Trophyfor 'Best Wine' and an International Trophy for 'World's Best Wine' at the Decanter Awards.

More than 14,000 wines from 61 regions around the world were entered in the 2013 competition.

Awards chairman Steven Spurrier presented the Decanter Trophy at a black-tie affair at the Royal Opera House in London.

“This is a ground-breaking achievement for Mission Hill,” said Spurrier. “To receive an award at this level is quite an achievement and an important recognition for the quality of pinot noir produced in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley.”

Mission Hill’s proprietor Anthony von Mandl called the win a “seminal moment for the Canadian wine industry” and expressed awe that a wine from the “still emerging Okanagan Valley could take on pinot noirs from Burgundy, Sonoma Country, Oregon, and New Zealand.”

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' and at the time the judges were in such disbelief they re-tasted 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 lifelong dream to produce wines of exceptional quality right here in the Okanagan Valley that could stand alongside the best in the world.”