Canada Flashcards
What are the main two areas under vine in Canada?
Ontario (Niagara Pensinsula) British Columbia (Okinagan Valley)
When did Icewine production begin in Canada? Who started it?
In the 1970s German immigrants (wanting to carry on production)
Is Germany or Canada the world’s largest producer of Icewine?
Canada
Commercial wine production in Canada began in the early 19th century; wine was initially produced from ____ ____ and later, vitis ____, which could withstand cold winters.
In the 20th century, hybrids from ____ were introduce, most notably ___ ___ which is still widely used for Icewine production.
American hybrids, and later, Vitis Labrusca
Hybrids from France
Vidal Blanc
When did Vitis Vinifera varieties arrive in Canada?
When did focus shift from hybrids to Vitis Vinifera and why?
Arrived in the 50s
Focus shifted in the 80s because…
- A US trade deal opened the Canadian market to American imports and removed subsidies for Canadian Growers
- an appellation system was introduced (the Vintners Quality Alliance)
When was prohibition in Canada?
What happened to the number of wineries in this period?
1916 to 1927
Wine was exempt, and the number of wineries actually increased
What was introduced following the end of prohibition in Canada?
Provincial liquor boards and monopolies which strictly control the sale and distribution of alcohol in Canada
Describe the climate in Ontario - what temperatures are reached in winter and summer?
Extreme continental
Winter temperatures can be lower than -20 degrees
Summer temperatures can exceed 30 degrees
How do growers in Ontario and inland British Columbia chose vineyard sites to mitigate extreme temperatures?
Plant near lakes
Explain how lakes can mitigate extreme temperatures.
What negative effect can lakes have?
- Reduce the effects of winter freeze
- In winter, moisture from the lake evaporates, meets ambient cold air and falls as snow; this covers and protects the vines, insulating them from cold air
- In spring, the lake heats up slowly delaying budbreak, usually until after the risk of spring frost has passed
- Lakes retain heat from summer into autumn and extend the growing season
Lakes increase humidity and risk of fungal disease
Where might drought be a hazard in Canada and why?
Inland British Columbia; regions here lie in the rain shadow of two mountain ranges
How does a Canada’s northerly latitude affect:
- Length of the growing season?
- Daylight hours?
- Shorter growing season
- Longer daylight hours in the summer (compensates for shorter season)
How might growers train vines close to lakes?
VSP is common
Vines need open canopies to increase airflow
Where might organic and sustainable vineyard practices be more common in Canada?
In hotter drier areas like Okanagan Valley
When is the growing season in Canada?
From early May to late August - it is short
What pests might you expect in Canadian vineyards?
Moths Mealy bugs Leaf hoppers Birds Deer Bears
What might Canadian producers do to wines in cooler years?
Chaptalise them for higher alcohol
Where is most Canadian Icewine produced?
Ontario
What temperature do grapes destined for Icewine in Canada have to be picked at?
-8 degrees or below
Why might Canadian growers choose to use machines to harvest grapes for icewine?
Low temperatures are often achieved at night, and it can be hard to find manual labour
High levels of sugar in grapes destined for Icewine means fermentations naturally stop between:
____ and ____% ABV
____ and ____g/l sugar
9-11% ABC (low alcohol)
200-250g/l sugar
What varieties are usually used for making Canadian Icewine?
What other varieties might be used?
Usually Riesling or Vidal Blanc
Sometimes Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer or Chardonnay
Why is Icewine premium priced?
Low yields - as little as 10% of still wine harvest due to dehydration
Grapes stay on vine longer - loss to rot and pests
Is artificial concentration or addition of sugar to Icewine permitted?
No
VQA wines with a stated single varietal must be ___% from that grape
85%
In VQA labelling laws, if two varietals are stated on the label, they must make up ___% of the blend
95%
In Canada, how are wines made from imported must or wine labelled?
International blend from imported and domestic wines
What is the largest wine producing province in Canada?
How many hectares under vine?
Ontario
7,000ha
Most vineyards in Ontario are close to lakes ____ and ____ to moderate the extremes of the continental climate
Erie and Ontario
What types of soils would you expect to find in Ontario around the lakes?
Limestone
What is the most planted grape in Ontario?
Vidal
Name the three main appellations in Ontario
Niagara Peninsula
Lake Erie North Shore
Prince Edward County
What is the largest wine producing area within Ontario?
Niagara Peninsula
Niagara Peninsula stretches from the shore of Lake ____ to the ____ escarpment, a north facing limestone cliff which rises 100m above the lake.
Lake Ontario
Niagara escarpment
Where are most vineyards planted in the Niagara Peninsula appellation?
What is the name of the sub appellation covering these areas?
Most are on benches part way up the Niagara Escarpment and the slopes above them
Niagara Escarpment
Explain how Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment moderate temperature
- During winter, land near the lake cools quickly
- Cold air above descends the escarpment slope
- Warm air above the lake rises and flows inland
- Cold air descending the escarpment is replaced with warm air rising
- This prolongs the growing season, prevents frost and fungal disease
Apart from moderating temperatures in conjunction with Lake Ontario, what other effect does the Niagara Escarpment have on the growing conditions in Niagara Peninsula?
It protects vines from bitter south west winds
Name the two sub appellations within Niagara Peninsula.
Niagara Escarpment
Niagara on the Lake
Is Niagara Escarpment or Niagara on the Lake cooler? Why?
Niagara Escarpment is cooler.
Niagara on the lake is closer to the lake
This reduces the drop in nighttime temperatures
Autumns here stay warmer longer
Grapes are slightly riper and fruitier but still have high acidity
What are the main grapes grown in Niagara Escarpment and Niagara on the Lake?
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Riesling
Cabernet Franc
Lake Erie North Shore produces less ripe/ riper fruit than Niagara Peninsula and wines from Lake Erie North Shore have more/less structure.
Lake Erie North Shore produces RIPER fruit
Wines have LESS structure
Where is the warmest of Ontario’s vineyard areas?
What contributes to this?
Lake Erie North Shore
The vineyard area is surrounded by shallow water which heats up and cools down quickly
What weather hazards are a threat in Prince Edward County?
Winter winds from Lake Ontario
Winter freeze
How does the soil in Prince Edward County aid ripening?
Limestone plateau with stony topsoil
Stones conduct heat and radiate it back to the vines at night
Prince Edward County is the most ____ appellation in Ontario and is surrounded by ____.
The main two grapes planted here are ____ and ____ ___ producing wines with high ____.
Northerly
Water
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
High acidity
Are most British Columbia vineyards inland or close to the Pacific?
Most are inland and sheltered from maritime influence by mountains.
A small number are close to the pacific with cool, maritime influence
British Columbia has ____ diurnal range, with ___ summer days and ___ nights.
High diurnal range with hot summer days and cool nights
What was the intention of the 1980s vine pull scheme in British Columbia?
To reduce hybrid plantings
What are the most planted varieties in British Columbia?
Merlot Pinot Noir Cabernet Sauvignon Pinot Gris Chardonnay
What is the largest appellation in British Columbia?
Okanagan Valley
Describe the soils in Okanagan Valley
Glacial deposits, mostly loams. More sand further south.
Free draining- irrigation is essential.
What is the importance of the lakes in Okanagan Valley?
- Moderate hot and cold temperatures
- Provide a source of irrigation water
What is the average rainfall in Okanagan Valley?
How does this affect the vineyards?
300-400mm (low)
Reduced disease pressure (more organic viticulture)
Need for irrigation
Describe the climate in Okanagan Valley.
What weather hazards pose a threat?
Extreme continental, with cold winters and very hot summers
Drought Spring frost (plant on slopes to mitigate)
At what elevations would you expect to find vines in Okanagan Valley?
300-600m : high diurnal range
Is the north of Okanagan Valley warmer or cooler than the south?
Why?
What grapes are typically grown there?
Cooler - slopes are east facing and shaded from the afternoon sun.
Pinot Noir Pinot Gris Riesling Gewurztraminer Chardonnay
Is the south of Okanagan Valley warmer or cooler than the north?
What grapes are typically grown there?
Warmer
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
How do mountains in Similkameen Valley affect growing conditions?
- High mountains on either side funnel winds into the valley
- Summer days are hot and mountains trap the heat into the evening
- Provide altitude for cooling influence (high diurnal range)
What grapes are mostly grown in Similkameen Valley?
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Name 3 Canadian small coastal regions.
Describe the climate.
What grapes are typically planted?
Vancouver Island
Gulf Islands
Fraser Valley
Cool, maritime climate
Early ripening varieties like Pinot Noir
Where is most Canadian wine consumed?
Domestically
What are Canada’s top export markets?
China USA South Korea Hong Kong Japan
Vineyard holdings in Canada are ___ and owned by both ___ and ___
Small
Growers and estates
Why is most wine in Canada consumed in the same province that it is produced in?
Regulations of provincial liquor boards make shipping wine between provinces illegal or highly complex
Are cellar door sales permitted in Canada?
In some provinces: wine tourism is however becoming increasingly important.
