The Friday Files: News & Notes From Canada's Wine Scene

Ever wonder what goes into judging a wine competition? Over at WineAlign, lead critic Anthony Gismondi shares details about the National Wine Awards of Canada, set to take place at the end of June, and how it all goes down.

At the Globe and Mail, Beppi Crosariol breaks down a European study on lower-alcohol wines versus bigger, stronger ones.

American website The Daily Meal pulled together a case of Canadian wine (well, B.C., specifically) and among their dozen picks they checked out were plenty of wines from My Wine Canada partners Tantalus, Meyer Family Vineyards, Painted Rock and Laughing Stock.

The cancellation of the Shores of Erie International Wine Festival has area producers concerned about the economic impact and fallout of the move.

Winnipeg joins Edmonton in getting its own festival of music, wine and food. While Edmonton has hosted Six Shooter Records’ Interstellar Rodeo for the past couple years, they’re expanding the party into Manitoba.

Among the performers at the inaugural Winnipeg Interstellar Rodeo this August 14-16 are Sinead O’Connor, Steve Earle and the Dukes, Dwight Yoakam, Hawksley Workman, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and many more. (Disclosure: Yours truly will be helping pick wines to pair with each of the artists.)

In the pat-ourselves-on-the-back category, My Wine Canada’s blog just picked up an award! Over at Winerist, the MWC blog took home Best Canada wine blog. Check out all the winners.

Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson is the wine columnist and literary editor for the Winnipeg Free Press. He’s on Twitter and Instagram at @bensigurdson.