Canada Flashcards
What are the only two provinces in Canada with VQA status?
Ontario
&
British Columbia
What is the appellation and quality control system in Canada known as?
Vintner’s Quality Alliance (VQA)
What is the VQA and when was it created?
The Canadian appellation and quality system. Vintner’s Quality Alliance founded in 1988.
How are VQA standards enforced in Canada’s two most important wine growing provinces?
The VQA standards are legally enforced in Ontario but they are voluntary in British Columbia
VQA wines from a stated province like, Ontario or British Columbia must contain what percentage of grapes from that province?
100%
For VQA wines from Ontario, what percentage of the grapes must be from the stated appellation or regional appellation?
85%
For VQA wines in British Columbia that are from an appellation more specific than the province, what percentage of the grapes must be from that appellation?
95%
For VQA wines of Ontario from a sub-region, what is the min. percentage of grapes from the sub-region?
100%
What is the min. % required of the varietal, if varitally labeled for VQA wines?
min. 85% and all Ontario non-sparkling wines must be vintage dated
What percentage of grapes must be from a vineyard for a single vineyard designation for a VQA wine?
100%
What is De Chaunac?
A French hybrid, created by Albert Seibel, and came to dominate the vineyards of Canada in the 1970’s
What is Vidal?
A French hybrid and the only hybrid allowed in the production of VQA Icewine.
What style of wine is Inniskillin famous for?
Icewine
What are the three main viticulutre areas of Ontario?
Niagara Peninsula
Lake Erie North Shore
Prince Edward County
Pelee Island was formally deregulated in 2013
What is the sub-appellation of Lake Erie North Shore and what independent appellation did it absorb?
South Islands
9 Islands including Pelee Island which was deregualted as an appellation in 2013 and added to the South Islands sub-appellation in 2016
Where is the Niagara Peninsula and what are its Regional Appellations?
Largest viticulture area in Ontario.
Regional Appellations
Niagara Escarpment
Niagara-on-the-Lake
What famous style of wine is produced on the Niagara Peninsula?
Icewine
When must producers declare their intent to make and Icewine?
By November of the harvest year
Grapes harvest for Icewine must be harvest at what temperature?
-8˙C
Harvested at night
Icewine makes up what percentage of Ontario’s total wine production?
5%
although it makes up over 50% of Ontario’s export
Where is Prince Edward County and what two grapes are you likely to encounter?
A viticulture area of Ontario
likely to encounter Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
What province is the Okanagan Valley in?
British Columbia
it makes up over 86% of the provinces total production
Okanagan Valley sits between what two mountain ranges?
Cascades
Monashee Mountains
What is the southern most winegrowing area of Canada?
Pelee Island
What parallel of latitude is the Okanagan Valley on?
the 49th, making it one of the world’s most northerly wine regions
Where would you find Fraser Valley GI, Gulf Islands GI & Kootenay’s GI?
In British Columbia
Which wine region is associated with the Skaha and Osoyoos Lakes?
Okanagan Valley
What lake is Pelee Island located within?
Lake Erie
Name a Niagara Peninsula sub-appellation not included in one of the two regional appellations?
Vinemount Ridge
Creek Shores
Lincoln Lakeshore
What are the sub-appellations of Niagara-on-the-Lake?
Niagara River
Niagara Lakeshore
Four Mile Creek
St. David’s Bench
What are the sub-appellations of Niagara Escarpment?
Short Hills Bench
Beamsville Bench
Twenty Mile Bench
How long must Vintage-dated “Traditional Method” sparkling wines from British Columbia GI need to spend on the lees?
12 months
What is the only hybrid allowed in the production of Ice Wine in British Columbia GI?
Vidal Blanc
What is the minimum sugar requirements for Ontario Icewine?
Min. 100 g/l (125 g/l prior to 2014)
What additional measures can a producer in Ontario use to sweeten their Icewine?
Add Sweet Reserve (Süssreserve) at a max. 15%
Cryo-extraction or other means of concentration are prohibited.
What is the requirements for a Meritage wine from Ontario?
White or Red
Min 2 or more Bordeaux varietals and no varietal may exceed 90%
What are the aging requirements for “Traditional Method” sparkling wines from Ontario?
min. 9 months on the lees
vintage-dated - min. 12 months on the lees
What are the sweetness levels of sparkling wines from Ontario?
Brut - 0-15 g/l
Extra Dry - 15-25 g/l
Dry - 25-35 g/l
Semi-Dry - 35-50 g/l
Sweet - 50+ g/l
Name three wineries located in Niagara Peninsula?
Inniskillin
Peller Estate
Jackson Triggs
What are the sub-appellations of Niagara Peninsula not included in a regional appellation?
Vinemount Ridge
Creek Shores
Lincoln Lakeshore
Name three varieties that Inniskillin makes Icewine from?
Vidal Blanc
Riesling
Cabernet Franc
Name three wineries in British Columbia
Inniskillin
Mission Hill Family Estate
Osoyoos Larose
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
What is the project between Gruaud-Larose and Vincor and where is it located?
Osoyoos Larose
in the Okanagan Valley
Name five GI’s located within the Okanagan Valley GI?
Golden Mile Bench GI
Okanagan Falls GI
Naramata Bench GI
Skaha Bench GI
Golden Mile Slopes GI
What is the nested GI within Vancouver Island GI?
Cowichan Valley GI
Name five other GI’s besides Okanagan Valley GI or its sub-appellations in British Columbia?
Gulf Islands GI
Kootenays GI
Shuswap GI
Thomson Valley GI
Vancouver Island GI
Similkameen Valley GI
Fraser Valley GI
Lillooet GI
What is the min. residual sugar requirements for Icewine from British Columbia and how are they different from the requirements in Ontario?
Min. 100 g/l
They are both the same.
What are the two PGI appellations in Quebec?
Vin du Québec IGP
Vin du glace du Québec IGP (for Icewine only)
What is the name of the appellation in Nova Scotia?
Tidal Bay Appellation
What are the most common grapes grown in Prince Edward County?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
What is the sole appellation of Nova Scotia and its sole style of wine?
Tidal Bay, white wines (light-min. 9.5% abv/max. 11% abv.
In British Columbia and Ontario, what is a “Meritage” wine?
Red and white blends of 2 or more Bordeaux varietals. (no variety may exceed 90% of the blend)
What region contains the sub zones of Kelowna, Black Sage and Skaha Bench?
Okanagan Valley GI
What are the top two most planted white varietals within British Columbia?
Pinot Gris
&
Chardonnay
Name 3 official Geographical Indications of British Columbia located West of the Cascade Mountain Range?
Vancouver Island GI
Gulf Island GI
Fraser Valley GI
Cowichan Valley GI
If a wine is labeled Golden Mile Bench, how much must be from Okanagan Valley? British Columbia?
95% Okanagan Valley
100% British Columbia
Who was the first to commercially release Icewine in Canada? What was the grape? Province? Vintage?
Hainle Vineyards
Riesling
Okanagan, BC
1978
What lake is Niagara Peninsula located on?
Lake Ontario. Southwest corner.
What regional appellation of Niagara Peninsula lies furthest east?
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Which regional appellation of Niagara Peninsula is not on the shores of Lake Ontario?
Niagara Escarpment
What are the Island GI’s in British Columbia?
Gulf Islands GI
Vancouver Island GI
What region sits on the Columbia River in British Columbia?
Kootenays GI
Wines of Market Quality apply to which North American wine region?
British Columbia
Describe the Canadian style “Blanc de Noirs”. What percent of red grape varieties are required?
Still white wine
Requires min. 85% red grapes
Name the two GIs established in British Columbia in 2020 and their larger encompassing region GI?
Golden Mile Slopes GI (Okanagan Valley GI)
Cowichan Valley GI (Vancouver Island GI)
Name two unofficial subregions of Okanagan Valley GI?
Osoyoos / Black Sage
Kewlona
What is the parentage of Vidal?
Ugni Blanc
X
Seval Blanc (one of the Seible parents)
