Tomonori Kakita, a sommelier-cum-concierge, demonstrates how to serve wine during a press preview at Wine Apartment in Tokyo on September 30, 2013

WineAlign, the largest wine Web site in Canada, declared the winners of the 2013 World Wine Awards of Canada. The competition is meant to guide consumers about the best wines present in the country in terms of price, country and variety.

The World Wine Awards of Canada was held in September. The winners were judged by 12 critics representing WineAlign. The team of critics had to taste 996 different wines in 5 days. Only 300 were selected for the 2nd round.

Anthony 'Spitter' Gismondi led the team of critics. Gismondi who is also known as The Spitter is arguably the most respected wine critic in North America. He is also a columnist at the Vancouver Sun. The complete list of critics in the preliminary round include MW, Rhys Pender, Zinta Steprans, Anne Martin, Marc Chapleau, Evan Saviolidis, Rémy Charest, Julian Hitner, MS, Brad Royale, Treve Ring, DJ Kearney, Ben Macphee-Sigurdson, Janet Dorozynski, Bill Zacharkiw, Sara d'Amato, Steve Thurlow, John Szabo, David Lawrason and Michael Godel.

The fundamentals of wine testing include judging a particular wine in terms of its looks, small and taste. The colour of wine during testing is not simply judged as red or white. It is rather classified in different shades such as purple, garnet, brick, maroon, ruby and so on when it comes to red wine. In white wine, the colour differs from straw to pale yellow and even golden or amber in certain cases.

The smell of the wine is critical in judging the quality. One has to swirl the glass for about 10 seconds to take a swift whiff for the first impression. When the wine is smelt deeper, the ingredients of the wine start appearing in the tester's mind. They can be flowers, berries, vanilla or citrus.

Finally, the taste of the wine gets decisive. The taste is judged in three phases. First, the first impression (called the Attack Phase), then it is the mid-range (Evolution Phase) and the final stage (The Finish). Notes are taken during the wine-testing, which turn out to be critical in judging the wine eventually.

Here is the complete list of the top 25 'Value Wines' (priced below $15) that won the race:

Gazela Vinho Verde (Portugal), MezzoMondo 2011 Sangiovese Merlot (Italy), The Beach House 2011 Red (South Africa), Barefoot Merlot (United States), Cono Sur 2012 Bicicleta Viognier (Chile), Caliterra 2012 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile), Trapiche 2012 Reserve Malbec (Argentina), Two Oceans 2012 Chardonnay (South Africa), Ogier 2012 Ventoux Rosé (France), Fetzer Vineyards Sundial 2012 Chardonnay (United States), PKNT 2012 Carmenère Reserve (Chile), Ogier 2011 Ventoux (France), Goats do Roam White 2012 (South Africa), Famille Perrin 2012 La Vieille Ferme Cotes-du-Ventoux Rouge (France), Bodegas Piqueras 2009 Castillo de Almansa Reserva (Spain), Boutari 2012 Moschofilero (Greece), Boutari 2012 Santorini Assyrtiko (Greece), Ogier 2011 Heritages Cotes du Rhone (France), Finca Los Primos 2012 Malbec (Argentina), Mapu 2011 Sauvignon Blanc (Chile), Big House White 2011 (United States), La Posta Cocina Tinto 2011 (Argentina), Rosemount 2012 Diamond Blends Grenache Shiraz (Australia), G. Marquis 2011 The Red Line Merlot (Canada) and Dancing Bull 2011 Zinfandel (United States).

Video courtesy: YouTube/newworld