Canada Flashcards
What is the name of Canada’s appellation and quality control system?
VQA
Vintner’s Quality Alliance
When was VQA launched in Canada?
1988 (in Ontario)
When was Inniskillin established?
1974
In which region is Inniskillin based?
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Which three incidents in 1988 led to a refocus on quality within the Canadian wine industry?
- Free trade agreement with USA - wines needed to compete in terms of quality
- Government sponsored vine pull scheme - vineyards replanted with vitis vinifera varieties
- VQA established in Ontario
Which two Canadian regions have VQA status?
British Columbia
Ontario
What percentage of grapes in a wine labelled Ontario VQA must be grown in that province?
100%
What percentage of grapes in a wine labelled British Columbia VQA must be grown in that province?
100%
If a Canadian VQA wine is labelled with a single vineyard, what percentage of the grapes must come from that vineyard?
100%
If a variety is stated on the label of a VQA wine, what percentage of that variety is required?
85%
Is chaptalisation permitted for Canadian Icewine?
No
How do British Columbia VQA laws differ from Ontario VQA?
- If labeled with an appellation more precise than the province, British Columbia VQA wines must contain a minimum 95% of grapes grown in the stated appellation
- Ontario VQA wines require 85% for appellations and regional appellations, and 100% for sub-appellations (in Niagara Peninsula).
Which Canadian province is the country’s largest producer?
Ontario VQA
What are the three Designated Viticultural Areas (appellations) of Ontario VQA?
Lake Erie North Shore
Niagara Peninsula
Prince Edward County
What are the regional appellations of Niagara Peninsula?
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara Escarpment
What is Pelee Island?
A former appellation which was deregulated in 2013 and became part of Lake Erie North Shore’s South Islands subappellation.
What is the sub appellation of Lake Erie North Shore?
South Islands
Which major city is located close to Lake Erie North Shore?
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Does Prince Edward County have sub appellations?
No
Which varieties are grown in Prince Edward County?
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Some Cabernet Franc
Describe the soils and weather of Prince Edward County
Hard winters
Clay limestone soil
What varieties are grown in Lake Erie North Shore?
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is notable about Lake Erie?
Shallowest of the Great Lakes - freezes easily, but is also the warmest
What are the two Regional Appellations of Niagara Peninsula?
Niagara Escarpment
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Which three sub appellations of Niagara Peninsula are not nested within a Regional Appellation?
Lincoln Lakeshore
Creek Shores
Vinemount Ridge
What are the three nested sub appellations of Niagara Escarpment?
Beamsville Bench
Twenty Mile Bench
Short Hills Bench
What are the four nested sub appellations of Niagara-on-the-Lake?
Niagara Lakeshore
Niagara River
Four Mile Creek
St David’s Bench
What is the soil type of the Niagara Peninsula?
Limestone
What is the Ontario VQA requirement for the production of Icewine?
Declare intent to produce Icewine in November
Leave grapes on the vine to freeze
Harvest at night - temperature must be at least -8 degrees
What percentage of total Ontario production is made up of Icewine?
Less than 5%
Which style of wine accounts for less than 5% of Ontario’s wine production?
Icewine
What are the five VQA Designated Viticultural Areas of British Columbia?
Vancouver Island Fraser Valley Similkameen Valley Gulf Islands Okanagan Valley
Which Designated Viticultural Area of British Columbia supplies 82% of the province’s wine?
Okanagan Valley
Describe the climate and topography of Okanagan Valley
One of the most northerly wine regions in the world - long daylight hours
East of the Cascades
Some mitigation of climate from Lake Okanagan
Truly continental climate - risk of vine damage during winter due to cold, very hot summers
Which British Columbian DVA is located between the Cascades and the Monashee mountains?
Okanagan Valley
Which British Columbian DVA is located in the Georgia Strait, between Vancouver Island and the mainland?
Gulf Islands
What is Vin de Curé?
Dried grape wine from Canada.
Ontario wines labelled ‘traditional method’ must be aged on lees for how long - as a minimum?
NV - 9 months
Vintage - 12 months
Are hybrid varieties allowed for wines labelled VQA?
Only if labelled with a province - VQA Ontario
Not allowed further appellations on the label.
Quebec is not part of the VQA system. Which classification system is used in Quebec?
Vins certifié du Quebec (VCQ)
Quebec Certified Wines
Established 2008
What are the five sub regions of Quebec?
Eastern Townships Montérégie Ouest-du-Québec Centre-du-Québec Est-du-Québec
What is the minimum residual sugar for Icewine?
100 g/L
Is cryoextraction and other methods of concentration allowed for Icewine?
No
Which varieties can be used for Icewine?
Vitis vinifera varieties (often Riesling and Cabernet Franc)
plus Vidal Blanc
Can British Columbia winemakers use süssreserve for their Icewine production?
No
It is permitted for Ontario producers up to 15% (same must weight as the wine)
What are the main grape varieties of British Columbia?
White Grapes: Pinot Gris (22%), Chardonnay (20%), Gewürztraminer (15%), Riesling (10%), Sauvignon Blanc (8%), Pinot Blanc (5%), Viognier (4%)
Red Grapes: Merlot (30%), Pinot Noir (21%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Syrah (10%), Gamay (3%)
What is British Columbia Meritage?
A blend of two or more Bordeaux grape varieties
Can be white or red
No more than 90% one variety.
What is the only official sub zone of Okanagan Valley?
Golden Mile Bench (2015)
There are many unofficial sub zones - expected to be official in the next few years
What are the two ‘Island’ appellations of British Columbia?
Gulf Islands
Vancouver Island
What are the three ‘Valley’ appellations of British Columbia?
Fraser Valley
Okanagan Valley
Similkameen Valley
What is the appellation system of the Nova Scotia wine industry?
Nova Scotia Wine Standards
What is the only appellation within Nova Scotia?
Tidal Bay (2012)
What requirements must a Tidal Bay wine meet to carry that appellation?
Specific grape varieties
100% Nova Scotia grown grapes
No more than 11% abv
Approved by independant blind tasting panel.
Must demonstrate the distinctive taste profile: lively fresh green fruit, dynamic acidity and characteristic minerality.
Name a prominent producer from Niagara Escarpment
Cave Spring
