Results from the 2026 Nationals – Library Wines

Announcing the Results from the 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada

The 2026 Nationals took place in Niagara, Ontario from June 12th to 18th. Today, we are pleased to announce the winners in the Libary Wines category. Category results will be rolling out throughout the rest of July, concluding with the Winery of the Year announcement on July 31st. We hope that you will stay tuned to follow the results!

Library Wines

Category Overview by Rhys Pender, MW

Go straight to the winners.

Library Wines at the NWACs

The Library Wine category is a relatively new addition to the National Wine Awards of Canada, providing an opportunity to showcase older vintages that are outside the years mandated for the current year’s awards (whites and rosés must be from 2022 or earlier, and reds from 2021 or earlier). As a young wine-producing country, the ageability of Canadian wines rarely gets the attention it deserves—but it should. The natural ingredients for longevity are exactly what Canadian terroir delivers: vibrant acidity from our cool climates and significant diurnal temperature shifts, firm tannins developed through long summer daylight hours at high latitudes, and concentrated fruit intensity from those same extended days of sunshine. With all the essential building blocks in place, it should come as little surprise that the judging results continue to demonstrate just how well Canadian wines can mature.

Many Canadian wines actually taste better with age. Despite this, producers are often eager to sell their wines as soon as they are released, and consumers are usually just as happy to drink them immediately. For those patient enough to wait, however, the rewards are considerable. Textures become richer and more harmonious, flavours develop greater complexity, and tannins soften, creating wines that are more complete and ultimately more enjoyable. Yet many consumers have not fully embraced this potential. Few cellars are stocked with mature Canadian wines, with collectors instead tending to favour regions with centuries-old reputations for longevity, particularly in Europe.

Of the 64 Library Wine entries, two earned Platinum medals, eight received Gold, and 29 were awarded Silver—a remarkably strong showing. The success was far from limited to a single grape variety or style. Riesling, with its remarkable acidity and ageing potential, claimed one Platinum and two Gold medals, but the winners also included Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and several red Bordeaux varieties and blends. Medal winners were spread across BC and Ontario as well as one from Nova Scotia, together demonstrating that Canadian wines across a broad range of varieties and styles can develop fascinating complexity and texture with time. Significantly, the two Platinum-winning wines were not merely five years old, but 10 and 11 years old, proving that Canada’s best wines are capable of ageing gracefully for a decade or more.

This represents a real opportunity for the Canadian wine industry. It’s time to sound the klaxon that Canadian wines can age—and age exceptionally well. More importantly, it’s an invitation to consumers to resist opening every bottle on release and instead tuck a few away. The rewards for patience are well worth the wait.