The Calgary Stampede is proud to announce the winners of the <a href="https://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/stampede-cellar-showdown-international-wine-competition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2026 Stampede Cellar Showdown</a> International Wine Competition, with Italian winery Ricasoli taking home the Grand Champion title for its Brolio Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG 2021.   Now in its third year, the 2026 competition saw more than 450 entries from 14 countries around the world.   “The continued growth of Stampede Cellar Showdown highlights the Calgary Stampede’s commitment to agriculture and the broader agri-food industry, particularly showcasing the significance of viticulture,” says Matthew Protti, volunteer Chair of the Wine Competition Committee at the Calgary Stampede. “With a 12 per cent increase in entries this year, it’s clear that international producers recognize Alberta as an influential wine market — a place where their wines can compete alongside top Canadian and global bottles, assessed by expert industry professionals.”   The first of three signature <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede-cellar-events?_gl=1*segnx5*_gcl_au*ODAxNTYwMDk0LjE3Njk1NDExNTQuNjc5MjYxNjkyLjE3NzI4NDE1ODAuMTc3Mjg0MTU3OQ..*_ga*MTY0NTk5Njc5OS4xNzY5NTQxMTU1*_ga_MF0BLW9NCG*czE3NzMwOTM1NjgkbzExOSRnMSR0MTc3MzA5NDM3MSRqNjAkbDAkaDA.">Stampede wine events</a>, Stampede Cellar Showdown provides exposure that extends well beyond judging days. On April 11, 2026, guests of <a href="http://www.calgarystampede.com/uncorked">Stampede Cellar Uncorked,</a> a ticketed wine and food tasting event, will be among the first to sip, swirl and savour the newly crowned Champion wines, which will be paired with cuisine crafted by top local restaurants using Alberta-grown ingredients. The exposure continues during the 2026 Calgary Stampede, July 3–12, when national and international audiences will experience the Showdown winning wines firsthand at the <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/champion-wine-experience?_gl=1*b3lkl0*_gcl_au*ODAxNTYwMDk0LjE3Njk1NDExNTQuNjc5MjYxNjkyLjE3NzI4NDE1ODAuMTc3Mjg0MTU3OQ..*_ga*MTY0NTk5Njc5OS4xNzY5NTQxMTU1*_ga_MF0BLW9NCG*czE3NzMwOTM1NjgkbzExOSRnMSR0MTc3MzA5NDQ3MiRqNjAkbDAkaDA.">Stampede Cellar Champion Wine Experience</a>.   Wines were evaluated across multiple categories by expert judging panels that included two Masters of Wine, one Master Sommelier and 25 wine professionals from Calgary’s wine industry. Judges assessed each wine through a blind tasting process, scoring entries on aroma, taste, structure and overall quality.   “As is often the case, the decision of the Grand Champion was a tricky one as there were so many great wines that had made it through to the final consideration,” says Rhys Pender, Master of Wine and lead judge for the 2026 competition. The Ricasoli Brolio Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG 2021, Italy ended up standing out for just having a beautiful combination of intensity, balance and just a savoury deliciousness that the final panel all loved.”   The winery behind the 2026 Showdown Grand Champion, Ricasoli, comes from the Chianti Classico wine area, where its vineyard soils vary greatly but all are strewn with stony fragments, adding mineral richness.   “Receiving the Grand Champion title at the Stampede Cellar Showdown is a tremendous honour for our team and for our winery partner,” says Wendy Austin, Executive Vice President, Sales at Icon Vins Fins. “We’ve proudly participated in this event for many years, and it’s a wonderful reflection of Calgary Stampede’s spirit of Western hospitality and celebration of great wine. The calibre of wines submitted to the competition is exceptionally high, so to see Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 recognized as the champion wine is incredibly rewarding.”   The Reserve Grand Champion title went to Azelia, Barolo DOCG, 2021 from Italy, and the Top Canadian Wine award went to Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Reserve Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley VQA 2021.   Wines entered in the competition must be available for purchase in Alberta, giving winning wineries and distributors the opportunity to showcase their products to guests at The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and through retail and restaurant partners using the Stampede Cellar Champion label. Winning wines from the Stampede Cellar Showdown become part of the Stampede Park wine program year-round and during the Calgary Stampede each July, where an international audience expects the highest standards in food and beverage.   The 2026 competition featured wines across multiple categories, including red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, rosé wine, fortified and mead. New for 2026, the competition introduced a category recognizing the Top Low-Alcohol or Non-Alcoholic Wine, reflecting evolving consumer preferences. The inaugural award went to Oddbird, GSM Liberated from Alcohol, Vin de France from France.   The 2026 Stampede Cellar Showdown Champions include:<ul><li>Grand Champion: Ricasoli, Brolio Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG 2021, Italy</li><li>Reserve Grand Champion: Azelia, Barolo DOCG, 2021, Italy</li><li>Top Canadian: Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Reserve Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley VQA 2021, Canada</li><li>Top Red: M. Chapoutier, Les Meysonniers, Crozes-Hermitage AOP, Rouge 2022, France</li><li>Top White: Penfolds, Bin 311 Chardonnay, South Eastern Australia 2021, Australia</li><li>Top Rosé: Rose Gold, Rosé, Côtes de Provence AOP 2025, France</li><li>Top Sparkling: Piper-Heidsieck, Brut, Champagne AOC N/V, France</li><li>Top Fortified: Ramos Pinto, Quinta do Bom Retiro Tawny 20 Years Old, Port, Portugal</li><li>Top Mead: Broken Tine Orchard, Mead - Haskap Melomel, Alberta 2022, Canada</li><li>Top Low/No Alcohol: Oddbird, GSM Liberated from Alcohol, Vin de France N/V, France</li></ul>  The full list of Stampede Cellar Showdown winning wines for 2026, including Bronze, Silver, Gold and Double Gold recipients, is available <a href="https://cdn.craft.cloud/284c7dbf-9389-4754-b7ea-50312329b835/assets/images/2026-SCS-Medal-Winning-Wines.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.   Taking place in the BMO Centre on April 11, Stampede Cellar Uncorked celebrates the best in Western hospitality, international wine and local culinary innovation. General admission tickets, VIP tickets and VIP ticket packages of eight are now available for purchase <a href="http://www.calgarystampede.com/uncorked">here</a>.   During the 2026 Calgary Stampede, July 3-12, the <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/champion-wine-experience?_gl=1*b3lkl0*_gcl_au*ODAxNTYwMDk0LjE3Njk1NDExNTQuNjc5MjYxNjkyLjE3NzI4NDE1ODAuMTc3Mjg0MTU3OQ..*_ga*MTY0NTk5Njc5OS4xNzY5NTQxMTU1*_ga_MF0BLW9NCG*czE3NzMwOTM1NjgkbzExOSRnMSR0MTc3MzA5NDQ3MiRqNjAkbDAkaDA.">Stampede Cellar Champion Wine Experience</a> welcomes guests to a speakeasy-style lounge in the Champions Ballroom on the third floor of the BMO Centre. The licenced 18+ venue features live music and award-winning wines and is included with admission to Stampede Park.About the Calgary Stampede The Calgary Stampede celebrates the people, the animals, the land, the traditions and the values that make up the unique spirit of the west. The Calgary Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through our world-renowned Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. Exemplifying the theme We’re Greatest Together, we are a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and celebrates our western heritage, cultures and community spirit. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities. <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/">calgarystampede.com</a>For media inquiries, please contact: Media Relations                                         E <a href="mailto:media.relations@calgarystampede.com">media.relations@calgarystampede.com</a>

<title>Stampede Newsroom | Global Wines Recognized as Calgary Stampede…</title>

Italian winery Ricasoli takes home the Grand Champion title for its Brolio Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG 2021.

Global Wines Recognized as Calgary Stampede Crowns 2026 Cellar Showdown Champion

One of the most anticipated moments of the Calgary Stampede Evening Show is getting a new title partner as ENMAX steps into sponsorship of the ENMAX Relay Races as part of an expanded partnership with the Calgary Stampede.A proud sponsor of the Calgary Stampede since 2002, ENMAX is building on more than two decades of support with a new high-profile sponsorship that celebrates both the high-adrenaline event of Relay Racing and the community spirit that defines the Calgary Stampede as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.A highlight of the Calgary Stampede Evening Show, the <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede/shows/evening/relay-races">ENMAX Relay Races</a> are a fan-favourite event known for their speed, teamwork and high energy competition. With crowd excitement climbing year over year, the Relay Races have quickly become a must-watch Stampede thrill.“ENMAX has been part of the Calgary Stampede story for more than 20 years, and this next chapter reflects how that relationship continues to grow and evolve,” said Martha Mackay, Director, Sponsorship at the Calgary Stampede. “By supporting fan-favourite events like the Relay Races, alongside community programs that bring people together, ENMAX is helping us elevate experiences that matter most to our guests and to the city we serve.”ENMAX’s expanded sponsorship will also bring Stampede to the community. As presenting sponsor of <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/pancake-breakfasts/caravan-breakfasts">Caravan Breakfasts</a>, ENMAX will support dozens of free breakfasts hosted in neighbourhoods across the city, welcoming residents to gather, celebrate and kick off Stampede week together.Additional sponsorship elements include ongoing support as the presenting sponsor of <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/community-roundup">Community Round Up</a> and the Pop-Up Neighbour Program. These initiatives bring Stampede Spirit to communities across the city, with Pop-Up Neighbours playing a key role in welcoming new Calgarians by bringing the Stampede to them. ENMAX will also help guests power up their day with mobile charging stations across Stampede Park, keeping devices, and the fun, fully charged throughout the 2026 Calgary Stampede. “The Calgary Stampede and ENMAX have been part of our city's story for generations,” said Alexandra Frison, Director, Communications and Community Impact, ENMAX. “Our partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to an experience that allows Calgarians, Albertans and other visitors to come together for a common purpose – to celebrate community, tradition and the moments that make Calgary and the Stampede special.”In addition to its event and community sponsorships, ENMAX remains the Official and Exclusive Retail Supplier of electricity and natural gas for the facilities and grounds of Stampede Park, supporting the operations that power The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.Tickets to the Calgary Stampede Evening Show, featuring the ENMAX Relay Races, the Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races presented by Play Alberta and the Grandstand Show presented by Freedom Mobile, are on sale now for the 2026 Calgary Stampede, running July 3–12, at <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede/shows/evening">calgarystampede.com</a>.About the Calgary StampedeThe Calgary Stampede celebrates the people, the animals, the land, the traditions and the values that make up the unique spirit of the west. The Calgary Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through our world-renowned Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. Exemplifying the theme We’re Greatest Together, we are a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and celebrates our western heritage, cultures and community spirit. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities. <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/">calgarystampede.com</a>For media inquiries, please contact:Media Relations Calgary Stampede E <a href="mailto:media.relations@calgarystampede.com">media.relations@calgarystampede.com</a>

<title>Stampede Newsroom | ENMAX Powers the Calgary Stampede with New Title…</title>

One of the most anticipated moments of the Calgary Stampede Evening Show is getting a new title partner as ENMAX steps into sponsorship of the ENMAX Relay Races as part of an expanded partnership with the Calgary Stampede.

ENMAX Powers the Calgary Stampede with New Title Sponsorship of the ENMAX Relay Races

CALGARY, AB (Mar. 5, 2026) — Nashville North returns, bigger and better, July 2–12 in Calgary’s original Stampede party tent. With more than 100 acts across four stages, the Stampede is set to once again deliver The Greatest Music Festival in the West, all included with admission to Stampede Park.Delivering ten plus days of non‑stop country where the music never quits and the energy stays high from the first chord to the last, Nashville North is Calgary’s ultimate spot for the best mix of live country music, where guests can go from rodeo to rowdy without leaving Stampede Park.“Nashville North continues to be the heart of the city’s best live country music,” said Meghan Kivisto, Vice-President, Marketing, Sales and Programming, Calgary Stampede. “With a bigger tent, bigger artists and the best party vibes, it’s time to celebrate like you only can at The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”Sneak-a-Peek on Thursday, July 2 will kick off the Nashville North schedule with the Bud Light Buckle Up Tour stop headlined by Josh Ross, the 2025 JUNO Award winner for Country Album of the Year for his EP Complicated.The lineup also features award-winning and chart-topping artists including Bailey Zimmerman, Russell Dickerson, Chris Young and Hudson Westbrook alongside fan favourites and emerging talent.From artists on the rise to chart‑topping headliners, Nashville North brings together the full spectrum of country talent.<a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/nashville-north">The complete 2026 Nashville North lineup:</a>July 2 Josh Ross Robyn OttoliniJuly 3 Ashley McBryde DaxJuly 4 Redferrin Blackjack BillyJuly 5 Russell Dickerson Brock PhillipsJuly 6 Hudson Westbrook Shane Smith &amp; The SaintsJuly 7 Ernest Zach McPheeJuly 8 Bailey ZimmermanJuly 9 Chris Young Restless RoadJuly 10 James Barker Band Alli WalkerJuly 11 Chris Janson Kalsey KulykJuly 12 Parmalee Brandon WishamHouse BandsDevin Cooper (July 6, 7, 8) | Drew Gregory (July 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) | Foxx Worthee (July 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) | Garrett Gregory (July 3, 4, 5) | Julia Vos (July 9, 10, 11, 12) | Kelsi Mayne (July 3, 4, 5) | Tristan Horncastle (July 9, 10, 11, 12)More ways to Enjoy. VIP and Buck-the-Line returnGuests can once again elevate their Nashville North experience with premium access options returning for 2026. The Nashville North VIP Platform Pass delivers elevated views of the Bud Light Stage, offering a redefined perspective of the show within the newly expanded venue and its all-cowboy neon glow.For groups looking to host in style, Nashville North Private VIP Suites provide a premium experience with private space, table service, a dedicated server and bird’s-eye views of the stage — ideal for celebrations, bachelor and bachelorette parties or corporate hosting.For the ultimate Nashville North fan, the popular Buck-the-Line Pass is also back, offering guests 18+ priority, no-line access to Nashville North on their selected date, along with admission to Stampede Park. Buck-the-Line bundles with Rodeo or Evening Show tickets are also available, giving fans even more ways to build the ultimate Stampede night out.Nashville North is a cornerstone of the Calgary Stampede’s diverse live music lineup, which spans the Coca-Cola Stage, Nashville North, The Big Four Roadhouse and the Scotiabank Saddledome. Renowned for bringing together global stars, fan favourites and emerging talent, the Stampede offers so many live music experiences that fans may just need all ten days to see it all.<a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede/tickets/nashville-north-exclusive">Grab your Nashville North experience today</a>.About the Calgary StampedeThe Calgary Stampede celebrates the people, the animals, the land, the traditions and the values that make up the unique spirit of the west. The Calgary Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through our world-renowned Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. Exemplifying the theme We’re Greatest Together, we are a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and celebrates our western heritage, cultures and community spirit. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities. <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/">calgarystampede.com</a>For media inquiries, please contact:Media Relations Calgary Stampede <a href="mailto:media.relations@calgarystampede.com">media.relations@calgarystampede.com</a>

<title>Stampede Newsroom | Bigger Acts. Bigger Vibes. Nashville North Is…</title>

Nashville North returns, bigger and better, July 2–12 in Calgary’s original Stampede party tent. With more than 100 acts across four stages, the Stampede is set to once again deliver The Greatest Music Festival in the West, all included with admission to Stampede Park.

Bigger Acts. Bigger Vibes. Nashville North Is Back for Stampede 2026

The Calgary Stampede and Calgary Stampede Foundation apologize to the members of the class action and their families. Our full written apology can be found <a href="https://cdn.craft.cloud/284c7dbf-9389-4754-b7ea-50312329b835/assets/images/Stampede-Apology.pdf">here</a>.

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<title>Stampede Newsroom | Apology</title>

The Calgary Stampede and Calgary Stampede Foundation apologize to the members of the class action and their families. Our full written apology can be found here.

Apology

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Global Wines Recognized as Calgary Stampede Crowns 2026 Cellar Showdown Champion

ENMAX Powers the Calgary Stampede with New Title Sponsorship of the ENMAX Relay Races

Bigger Acts. Bigger Vibes. Nashville North Is Back for Stampede 2026