NK’Mip Cellars announces its win at the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), capturing the Regional Trophy and Gold medal for its Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine 2010 in the Sweet Wines category. In addition to winning the Regional Trophy the wine was awarded as one of the top five new world sweet wines and is now up for the international award. Nk’Mip received 11 medals in total including a second gold medal for the 2008 Qwam Qwmt Syrah.

Winemaker Randy Picton applies a specific philosophy to the art of winemaking; while he believes that great wines start in the vineyard, Picton’s attention to detail allows him to approach each wine with a unique strategy. It is Picton’s attention to detail that has continued to set each wine a part – the Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine 2010 being the only Canadian wine to win in its category at this year’s DWWAs. “It is a great honour to be recognized by one of the world’s most influential wine competitions. It’s a tribute to the hard work and commitment to exacting viticultural practices by the Osoyoos Indian Band, sayings Randy Picton, Winemaker, NK’Mip Cellars.

Distinguished as North America’s first aboriginal owned and operated winery, NK’Mip Cellars celebrates this prestigious award alongside their ten-year anniversary milestone.

“This award has come to us during quite a momentous occasion as we ring in our ten-year anniversary at the winery,” says Jody Levesque, Marketing Manager, Western VQA Estates, Constellation Brands. “The Decanter World Wine Awards are very highly regarded in the industry. It’s this type of international recognition that continues to help us grow in new ways.”

NK’Mip Cellars Qam Qwmt Riesling Icewine 2010
Harvested at -13°Celsius with a Brix of 40.4 from NK’MIP Vineyard’s highly prized 30-year-old Riesling block-pure and focused, this inviting Icewine displays harmonious layering of honey, baked apple, sweet citrus and apricot. The defined mid palate progresses into a mouthwatering, powerful finish that is inspired by well-integrated acidity.

NK’Mip Cellars (pronounced “in-ka-meep”) is North America’s first aboriginal owned and operated winery. Overlooking the shores of Osoyoos Lake, the winery sits on natural desert land surrounded by the stunning contrast of vineyards. Using grapes grown onsite and from the Osoyoos Indian Band’s own Inkameep Vineyard, winemaker Randy Picton produces quality wines in three tiers: NK’Mip Cellars, a reserve tier named Qwam Qwmt(pronounced kw-em kw-empt) meaning achieving excellence as well, the winery produces a Meritage named in honour of the perfect union of varietals – Mer’r’iym.

The winery is open year-round with seasonal patio foodservice. Special events and traditional native celebrations are held throughout the season.