27 - Canada Flashcards
Most of Canada’s vineyard area are in Ontario and the Okanagan Valley.
Describe the growing conditions that characterise these regions.
Extreme continentality
- summer temps above 30c
- winter below 20c
Lakes
- Mod influence crucial → winter freeze, spring frost, extend growing season
- increase humidity
Northerly latitude 41-51N
- Shorter growing season
- longer daylight hours in summer
What are two specific viti challenges in Okanagan?
- Drought, sits in a rainshadow from either side
- forest fires → dryness
Cutting-edge practices and technologies characterise Canada’s wine industry. For each of the following viti challenges, describe how growers manage them.
- Humidity from nearby lakes
- Drought risk
- Short growing season
- Winter freeze
- Pests like moths and mealy bugs
- Humidity CM → VSP, GDC, Scott Henry, Lyre
- Drought risk drip irrigation
- Short growing season CM
- Winter freeze burying vines, geotextiles
- Pests IPM
How does the lake effect reduce the risk of winter freeze? (2)
- Keeps temps warmer during winter
- Causes snow as moisture from lake rises and meets cold air → insulates
Describe the role that hybrids play in the Canadian wine industry. (4)
Historically only 2 survive winter
40% nationwide - mainly Ontario
Most inexp, blended with Canadian grapes + imported juice labelled International Canadian Blends
Vidal remains important for HQ icewine due to thick skins + high acid
Compare Icewine made from Vidal and Riesling. (3)
200-250 g/L of RS with 9-11% ABV + high acid
Intense, pure aromas of peach/mango
Riesling more acid, complexity, ageing potential
While the exact style varies between different growing conditions (e.g. cooler Ontario vs. warmer Okanagan), what characterises most Canadian wine?
High acid even warmer spots experience high diurnal range
Describe the production process for Icewine.
Must be made from VV or Vidal → most Vidal
- Grapes harvested at -8c
- Hand/machine harvested
- Pressed to separate high sugar/acid juice
- Ferment + stored in SST, oak mat may be used
- Ferment to 9-11 ABV
- 200-250 g/L of RS remaining
Why is Icewine expensive? (3)
High production costs due to
- Low Y → dehydration of grapes 10% of still wine
- Low Y → disease + animals during autumn
- Rigorous production standards → VQA
What does the term VQA mean?
Vintners Quality Alliance
- appellation system
- guarantees wines 100% grapes within province
- from VV or small number of approved hybrids
- Limits chap
- outlines min. must weights
- All wines must pass lab + tasting panel
- Varietally labelled wines need 85%
What styles of wine is Ontario known for? (4)
- 90% of Canada’s icewine,
- Vidal most widely planted grape
- Riesling dry - sweet
- Chard
- Red Bordeaux blends led by C.F with Merlot → herbaceous, fresh acid, Oak
- Fresh PN, Gamay
If a wine is labelled as a VQA sub-region e.g. Lake Erie North Shore where must the grapes be sourced?
85% from named area, remainder from within province
Describe how the topography of the Niagara Peninsula impacts the style of wine produced.
Niagara Escarpment
- gentle slopes facing N
- altitude + airflow cool vines → high acid Chard, PN, Riesling
- protected from cold SW winds
Niagara-on-the-Lake
- next to lake on flats → warmer days, nights, longer growing season
- → Bdx blends + fruitier Chard, PN, Riesling
The OK Valley accounts for 85% of BC’s vineyard area. Describe the range of growing environments found in the region.
- EX continental Hotter in S (40c in summer) → desert conditions
- Lake mod temps, reduces frost → smaller lakes → less marked than Ontario
- N latitude shortens growing season, long day length
- Rainfall ave very low
- Soils are free-draining
- Altitude helps with diurnals 300-600m
There is a marked difference between growing environments in the North and South of the Okanagan Valley. How does this impact the styles of wine produced?
Cooler N (esp. E-facing slopes) → PN, PG, Riesling, Chard, Gewurtz
Hotter S → Merlot, C.F, C.S, Syrah → high abv, ripe fruit
How is the climate of Similkameen Valley different from the Okanagan?
similar but no lake effect → wider diurnal range
