Canada excels at producing fantastic icewines, but the country is attracting worldwide acclaim for its table wines. In Canada, the most practical locations in which to cultivate grapes are Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Québec. Some vineyards in Canada's wine belt are located at almost the same latitude as the Burgundy region of France, and there are more than one-hundred wineries in Ontario alone. The biggest challenges have been to pinpoint which grapes suit Canada's climate, and matching vine to soil. Canada's early European settlers tried to grow grape varieties of the Vitis vinifera species, but they didn't survive the combination of humid summers and cold winters. Instead, Canadian vintners turned to a hardier grape, Vitis labrusca, to make their wines.
Ontario
Canada's second largest province has four DVAs (Designated Viticultural Areas): the Niagara Peninsula, the north shore of Lake Erie, Pelee Island, and Prince Edward County. For the most part, Ontario's table wines are dry. The majority of wineries are located between Niagara-on-the-Lake and the higher Niagara Escarpment, where the soil and climate is ideal for Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Noir. The Inniskillin winery is gaining international attention for the quality of its icewine.
British Columbia
The Okanagan Valley east of Vancouver is a wine grower's dream. This area of the province has hot and dry summers, low humidity, and cool nights. In this environment, the grapes ripen to their full maturity and retain much of their acidity. The southern part of the Okanagan Valley from Kelowna to Osoyoos near the U.S. border is a perfect environment for red Bordeaux varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Two of the most prominent wineries are Mission Hill and Sumac Ridge.
Nova Scotia
This province is almost completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Fundy, save for the narrow strip of land that connects it to the rest of Canada. Nova Scotia is better known for its seafood, but winemaking is a flourishing industry. The Annapolis Valley, the Malagash Peninsula, and the Northumberland Strait all experience maritime temperatures, therefore, most wines from Nova Scotia are made with hybrid grapes. Generally, grapes that do well in warmer regions don't thrive here. A good place to sample Nova Scotian wine is Gaspereau Vineyards near Wolfville.
Québec
It's a challenge to make wine here, and the biggest hurdle is the Arctic-like winters. In order to be successful, French-Canadian vintners have discovered it's better to use hybrid grapes such as Vidal and Seyval. Most wineries in this part of Canada are small and located between Montréal and the U.S. state of Vermont. Vignoble de L'Orpailleur is by far the largest producer of wine in Québec.
VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance)
Similar to the AOC in France and DOC in Italy, the VQA is a regulatory body that ensures the quality of Canadian wine. A bottle with the VQA label guarantees the wine has been made with 100% Canadian-grown grapes.
Reference:
canadianvintners.com
Scott Hayden - Since joining Suite101 in early 2007, I've contributed articles about travel, history and health. My speciality is writing about workplace ...
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