SpearHead Winery earned the prestigious ‘Winery of the Year’ title at the 2024 WineAlign National Wine Awards, where more than 1,800 wines from 230 Canadian wineries were judged. Alongside this top honour, SpearHead also won the title of Best Performing Small Winery (for the second time in three years), collecting 12 medals in the competition.
Key achievements include Platinum Medals for the 2022 Club Consensus Pinot Noir, 2022 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir and 2022 Saddle Block Pinot Noir, as well as a Gold Medal for the 2021 Golden Retreat Pinot Noir.
“They notched unparalleled success in a single category (Pinot Noir) in the history of these awards – winning a total of seven medals for their Pinots including three platinum, one gold, a trio of silvers and a bronze,” said WineAlign judge DJ Kearney.
This accomplishment highlights the winery’s meticulous attention to detail that results in consistent excellence in viticulture and winemaking.
As a judge who’s been part of the WineAlign panel for over two decades, I can confirm two things: SpearHead wines reflect the people behind them who are generous of spirit and rich with experience, and their success is no accident.
DJ Kearney, WineAlign
“As a judge who’s been part of the WineAlign panel for over two decades, I can confirm two things: SpearHead wines reflect the people behind them who are generous of spirit and rich with experience, and their success is no accident,” said Kearney.
At the helm is winemaker and general manager Grant Stanley, a dual citizen of Canada and New Zealand, who began his career in Marlborough. After 15 vintages in New Zealand and Oregon, he moved to the Okanagan Valley in 2003 and has been with SpearHead since 2017. Grant is renowned for his Pinot Noir expertise and his collaborative efforts with fellow winemakers and viticulturists.
“Our commitment to staying small and focused on Pinot Noir is paying off,” said Stanley. “Many producers I admire worldwide limit their production to concentrate on quality over quantity.”
SpearHead’s team shares a passion for Pinot Noir, crafting a diverse range from single vineyard to single clone expressions. The precisely curated portfolio by Stanley showcases hand-selected barrels that reflect the winery’s dedication to excellence.
A standout wine, the 2022 Club Consensus Pinot Noir, is unique in that it was crafted with input from SpearHead Wine Club members, exemplifying the winery’s community-focused approach.
“Our ambition has been to create a nationally-recognized winery for premium wine, especially Pinot Noir,” said Bill Knutson, co-owner of SpearHead Winery. “Winning Winery of the Year at the 2024 National Wine Awards is a great honour and affirms our progress. This success is thanks to our dedicated team, led by Grant Stanley. We are proud to join the ranks of past award winners and are more determined than ever to secure a place on the world stage for Canadian premium wines.”
