Canada Flashcards
Land under vine in Canada
12,500ha
a relatively small player despite being the world’s second largest country!
Why is there not more land under vine in Canada given its massive size?
Most of the country not suitable for viticulture
High latitude
Extremes of temeprature
Two major (and two minor) provinces for Canadian wine?
Ontario and BC
Nova Scotia and Quebec
Two most important sub-regions for Canadian wine (one in Ontario, one in BC)
Niagara Peninsula, ON
Okanagan Valley, BC
When did Canadian icewine production start?
1970s
German immigrants!
Canada is world’s largest producer of icewine. T/F
True!
But it’s a small % of overall Canadian production
Which kind of vines were planted in Canada in the early days, before vinifera?
Early 19thC: v. labrusca (survive harsh winter)
early 20thC: French hybrids (Vidal Blanc!, still used)
1950s: Vinifiera first planted
1980s: vinifera becomes dominant
What prompted the push to quality in Canadian wine?
US-Canada trade deal
Opened Canada to imports from US
Removed subsidies from Canadian growers
Introduce VQA system
Canada experienced prohibition (1916-1927) but wine industry not affected. Why?
Wine was exempt!
Number of wineries actually increased
But monopolies are the result
Distance between ON and BC?
4,000km
Climate for Ontario and inland areas of BC
Extreme continental climate Hot summers (30C and above) Freezing winters (-20C)
Canadian vineyards near lakes. So what?
Most vineyards near lakes
=> moderate temperatures
=> lake effect reduces the risk of winter freeze
=> water heats up slowly, delays budbraek, mitigate against spring frost
=> retains heat in summer, extending growing season
also: humidity -> fungal
Lakes in Canada increase humidity. So what?
Increase risk of fungal disease
What does snow do in Canada vineayrds?
Snow cover protects vines, insulate from cold air (winter freeze)
Winter freeze still an issue in coldest places eg Prince Edward County
Comment on drought in Canada
A regular concern for inland parts of BC (rain shadow of mountain ranges)
An issue in ON (hotter, drier years)
Canada has a very northerly latitude. So what?
Towards northern limit for viticulture
Shorter growing season
Longer daylight hours in summer (vs. USA)
Comment on canopy management for Canadian vineyards around lakes?
Humid areas
=> need an open canopy to improve air flow, reduce fungal risk
VSP most common
Some use Geneva Double Curtain, Scott Henry, Lyre
Vineyard pests in Canada
Insects (moths, mealy bugs, leafhoppers)
Birds
Deer
BEARS
Growing season in Canada; long, short or otherwise?
Shorter than most traditional regions
budbreak early May -> harvest late August (can continue to November, or Feb for icewine)
Irrigation in Canada?
Yes esp. in drought areas like Okanagan
Drip irrigation
How do growers in Prince Edward County protect their vines in winter?
Bury thm!
Labour intensive => add to production cost
Experiment with geotextiles
What are geotextiles
Fabrics draped over vines to protect against winter damage (eg Prince Edward County)
Okanagan and Similkameen Valley: what do growers do to protect vines in winter?
Push up level of soil around graft to protect them
Winters not as bitter as in ON
Hybrids account for what % of Candian vines?
Around 40% of harvest tonnage in 2018!
What are hybrids used for in Canada?
International Canadian Blends (as opposed to VQA)
Icewine (Vidal)
Vidal suitable for Canadian Icewine why?
Winter hardy
High acid (not as high as Riesling)
Slow ripening
Thick skins
Vidal style (Dry or sweet)
High acid
Stone fruit, tropical fruit
Peach mango
Key vinifera grapes in Canada, planted since 1980s onwards?
Bordeaux varieities (Merlot, Cab F and lesser extent Cab S)
Chard
Pinot Noir
Canadian wines tend to have high acid. Why?
Cool temperatures
and/or
high dirunal range
Canada: Examples of lower intervention techniques in winery?
Ambient yeasts
Unfiltered wines
Less new oak
More neutral vessels
Is chaptalisation used in Canada?
yes sometimes - cooler regions, cooler years
Most Canadian Icewine produced in what province?
Ontario
Picking regulations for Canadian Icewine
Harvest at -8C or below
can be hand or machine - labour difficult so machine common
RS for Canadian icewine? Why?
200-250g/L
Freezing concentrates the sugars. Very high sugar level => ferment stops naturally at 9-11%, leaving high RS
Most Canadian Icewine from what grape? BEST Canadian Icewine from what grape?
Most from Vidal
Most complex and well-balanced: Riesling
Grapes used for Canadian Icewine
Most common: Vidal
Best quality: Riesling
Also: Cab Franc, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, others
Yields for Canadian Icewine (vs. still wine harvest)
10% of a “Normal” harvest size
Account for extremely low yields for Canadian Icewine
Grapes dehydrating Damaged grapes Bad weather => lost grapes Rot Animals
Who owns the “Icewine” trademark? (Canada)
Canadian Vintners Association
When did Ontario introduce VQA legislation?
1988
BC followed in 1990
VQA wines with a variety on label must be what % that variety?
85%
“International blend from imported and domestic wines” is what? (Canada)
Wine in Canada made in aprt from imported must or wine
Wines that don’t qualify for VQA status can use what term on the label?
Product of Canada
Land under vine in Ontario
7,000ha
Canada has 12,500 total
Two Great Lakes in Ontario
Lake Erie
Lake Ontario
What do Ontario’s Great Lakes do?
Moderate extremes of Ontario’s continental climate
Account for high acid AND ripe fruit flavours in Ontario wines?
Lakes moderate extreme temperatures, cooling (high acid)
Long sunshine hours (ripe fruit flavours)
There’s a lot of limestone around Ontario’s lakes. From where?
Ancient seabed, exposed over a long period of glacial activity
Ontario makes what % of Canadian Icewine?
90%
What is the most planted variety in ontario?
Vidal
90% of Canadian Icewine made here
Other than Icewine, what is the breakdown of still red and white VQA wine made in ON?
Equal parts red and white
About 4% rosé
Two most planted vinfiera grapes in Ontario?
Riesling
Chardonnay
Ontario Riesling style
high acid
Citrus, peach, floral
dry to sweet
Ontario Chardonnay style
medium (+) to high acid
apple and citrus
stone fruit and tropical (warmer sites/vintages)
Most planted black grape in Ontario?
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc style in Ontario?
Elegant and fresh
Red plum, red berry, green pepper, herbal
What is Cab Franc used for in Ontario?
Single varietals and Bordeaux blends
Icewine
Black grapes grown in Ontario
Cab Franc
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Three primary appellations in Ontario
Niagara Peninsula
Lake Erie North Shore
Prince Edward County
Significant producers in Ontario
Inniskillin
Peller Estates
(and FLAT ROCK!!)
Niagara Peninsula has what % of Ontario vineyards?
80%
Describe the topography of Niagara Escarpment
a north-facing limestone bluff 100m above Lake Ontario
most vyds on benches located part way up the escarpment
Lake Ontario is very deep. So what?
It takes longer to warm up in spring
Takes longer to cool down in autumn
moderate temperature
Lake Ontario and Niagara Escarpment have what impact on temperatures?
Provide warming air flow in winter
Provide cooling airflow in summer
=> longer growing season, reduced risk of fungal and frost
Niagara Peninsula has two regional appellations. What are they?
Niagara Escarpment
Niagara-on-the-Lake (Flat Rock!)
Niagara Escarpment is coolest part of Niagara Peninsula. Why? So what?
Combo of altitude and cooling lake breezes
High acidity in wines
Great for early-ripening Chardonnay and Pinot
Niagara-on-the-Lake vs Niagara Peninsula: style
NotLake is warmer = riper, fruitier, more Bordeaux blends
Warmest of Ontario’s vineyard areas?
Lake Erie North Shore
Lake Erie North Shore makes what kind of wines?
more ripe fruit but less structure than those from Niagara Peninsula
(it’s Ontario’s warmest area)
Ontario’s most northerly appellation? So what?
Prince Edward County
Latitude => high risk of winter freeze
Prince Edward County has a limestone plateau with stony topsoil. So what?
Conducts heat and radiates it at night
=> aids ripening in this very cool region
Most common grapes in Prince Edward County? Why?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
they ripen early
extremely high acid
Land under vine in BC
4,200ha
Canada has 12,500ha altogether
BC vineyards split into which two distinct areas?
Pacific coast (cool maritime climate, small number of vineyards) Inland (Okanagan Valley etc)
BC’s vineyards are further notrh than Ontario’s. So what?
Growing season is shorter
BUT days are longer during season
Hot summer days and cool nights -> wide diurnal range
=> ripe fruit flavours AND high acid
Comment on hybrids in BC
Not many of them left now
Vine pull scheme in 1980s
Reduced by 2/3s
Most planted black grape in BC?
Merlot
Most planted black grape in BC? Most planted black grape in Ontario?
BC: Merlot
Ontario: Cabernet Franc
Merlot style in BC?
More full bodied than in ontario
Higher tannins
Higher alcohol
Riper fruit flavours
Pinot Noir style in BC?
Riper and fruitier than Ontario
Relatively high tannins
Most planted white grape in BC?
Pinot Gris
BC Pinot Gris style?
Dry or off-dry
Medoium body
Medium to high acid
Melon and pear
Okanagan Valley is what % of BC plantings?
85%
Significance of lakes in Okanagan Valley? Most important lake?
Moderate hot summer and cold winter
Provide water for irrigation
Okanagan Lake
Lakes in Okanagan Valley vs Great Lakes in Ontario?
Okanagan much smaller lakes
Much smaller moderating effect
Okanagan Valley is dry with very little rainfall. So what?
Irrigation essential (water from Okanagan Lake) Disease/fungal pressure low => organic on increase
Climate in Okanagan Valley
Extreme continental
cold winters (not so cold to bury vines)
Growing season short with long days
Summers hot
Okanagan Valley is hotter in the south. What grows there?
Black grape vareities
Merlot, Cab F, Cab S and Syrah ripen fully
Where is Similkameen Valley located?
West of the extreme southern end of Okanagan Valley
Topography of Similkameen Valley
Rugged, rocky valley
Narrow strip of agricultural land along Similkameen River
High mountains either side =. winds
Significant producer in Similkameen Valley
Clos du Soleil
Climate of Similkameen Valley vs Okanagan Valley?
Similar (extreme continental)
No lakes in Similkameen => no moderating influence
Summer days very hot
Small Pacific Coastal regions in BC?
Vancouver Island
Gulf Islands
Fraser Valley
Climate in Pacific coastal regions of BC (Vancouver Island etc)?
Cool maritime
Mild winters, no winter freeze
What kind of grapes can grow in coastal regions of BC (Vancouver Island etc)?
Early-ripening
especially PINOT NOIR
Top export markets for Canadian bottled wine?
China USA South Korea Hong Kong Japan
but exports (except Icewine) are tiny
Why is wine tourism significant for Canada?
Limits on where and how wine can be sold and shipped
Cellar door a big channel
