Adding to the silver medal it won last year, The Wine Cottage has brought home gold and bronze from the world鈥檚 largest consumer-made wine competition this year.

鈥淲e鈥檙e still days away from the London Olympics, but already we鈥檙e owning the podium!鈥� owner Lyle Brodie said.

The Wine Cottage鈥檚 first-ever gold at the Wine Maker International Amateur Wine Competition was for a 2011 Spanish Tempranillo, a full-bodied red made by Alison Crawford and Peter Hoefgen. It was up against more than 500 entries in the Red Vinifera Varietal category.

鈥淭empranillo is the main grape that goes into Spanish Rioja wines,鈥� Brodie said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very full-bodied, mature wine with flavours of blackberry, raspberry and plum.鈥�

The wine, added Brodie, is one of six varieties of premium wine kits that come with a two-litre package of grape skins, which gives the wine a robust body and more depth of flavour.

Though The Wine Cottage staff tweaked the recipe of last year鈥檚 silver medal-winning wine, a 2010 Montepulciano, this year鈥檚 winner was made according to the standard instructions; further proof, says Brodie, that it鈥檚 simply a great wine.

鈥淎nyone can come in and make this award-winning wine. It boggles my mind how many people still buy full-priced commercial wine when they can make one that鈥檚 every bit as good, or even better, for a fraction of the price.鈥�

The Wine Cottage also won a bronze medal in the Red Vinifera Blends category, which attracted 663 entries, for its 2011 Luna Rossa 鈥� a complex, robust red with rich fruit flavours and a long oak finish.

The competition attracted more than 4,300 entries from seven countries. Judging was in April but winners weren鈥檛 notified until last week.

The Wine Cottage is at 312-130 Centennial Dr. near the corner of Back and Ryan roads. Call 250-338-2686 or visit www.thewinecottage.ca.