Global Wines Recognized as Calgary Stampede Crowns 2026 Cellar Showdown Champion

The Calgary Stampede is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Stampede Cellar Showdown 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 Stampede wine events, Stampede Cellar Showdown provides exposure that extends well beyond judging days. On April 11, 2026, guests of Stampede Cellar Uncorked, 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 Stampede Cellar Champion Wine Experience.
 
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:

• Grand Champion: Ricasoli, Brolio Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG 2021, Italy
• Reserve Grand Champion: Azelia, Barolo DOCG, 2021, Italy
• Top Canadian: Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Reserve Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley VQA 2021, Canada
• Top Red: M. Chapoutier, Les Meysonniers, Crozes-Hermitage AOP, Rouge 2022, France
• Top White: Penfolds, Bin 311 Chardonnay, South Eastern Australia 2021, Australia
• Top Rosé: Rose Gold, Rosé, Côtes de Provence AOP 2025, France
• Top Sparkling: Piper-Heidsieck, Brut, Champagne AOC N/V, France
• Top Fortified: Ramos Pinto, Quinta do Bom Retiro Tawny 20 Years Old, Port, Portugal
• Top Mead: Broken Tine Orchard, Mead - Haskap Melomel, Alberta 2022, Canada
• Top Low/No Alcohol: Oddbird, GSM Liberated from Alcohol, Vin de France N/V, France

 
The full list of Stampede Cellar Showdown winning wines for 2026, including Bronze, Silver, Gold and Double Gold recipients, is available here.
 
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 here.
 
During the 2026 Calgary Stampede, July 3-12, the Stampede Cellar Champion Wine Experience 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. calgarystampede.com

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