Ch. 27 – Canada Flashcards

1
Q

Climate in Canada

A

Extreme continental climate

Most vineyards are near to lakes to moderate temps
- later bud break
- lake effect lessens risk of winter freeze
- retention of warmth into autumn
- snow protects from winter freeze

Higher level of humidity
- fungal disease pressure

Drought is regular concern (mainly British Columbia)

Latitude results in shorter growing season but longer hours of sunshine

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2
Q

Vineyard management in Canada

A

Very advanced

Canopy management is crucial due to humidity
- VSP most common
- some experiments with Lyre, Scott Henry

Main pests are bugs, birds, and animals
- moths, mealy bugs, leafhoppers

Significant vintage variation
- due to unpredictable weather in autumn

Burying wines over winter, geotextiles over vines, hilling up

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3
Q

Grape varieties in Canada

A

Still significant number of hybrids used
- Vidal (high acidity, slow ripening and thick skin)
- tropical fruit flavours in icewine (peach, mango)

Bordeaux varieties (mainly Merlot and Cabernet Franc)

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Aromatic white varieties
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Gewurztraminer

All characterized by relatively high acidity

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4
Q

General winemaking trends in Canada

A

Attempts to reduce intervention
- ambient yeast, not filtering
- more moderate use of new oak

Chaptalization is sometimes practised

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5
Q

Icewine in Canada

A

Must be harvested at 18F or below

Machine harvesting common

Ferment usually stops at 9-11% abv leaving around 200-250 g/l RS

Stone and tropical fruit aromas: Peach, mango

Riesling, Vidal, Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay

Usually fermented and stored in steel
- new oak is sometimes used for maturation

Very low yields due to weather, disease, birds/animals, and shriveling

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6
Q

Legal requirements for Icewine in Canada

A

Legally protected term

Only from grapes which are naturally frozen

All grapes grown in Canada

From Vinifera or Vidal

Minimum sugar level

Artificial concentration or addition of sugar is prohibited

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7
Q

VQA regulations in Canada

A

Wines must be exclusively from grapes grown in the province stated

100% Vinifera or certain permitted hybrids

Standards for growing and wine production
- e.g. minimum must weights and chaptalization limits

Wines are tested by panel and lab analysis

Single varietal wines must contain at least 85% of that variety

If wine does not meet VQA requirements it is labeled ‘Product of Canada’

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8
Q

International Canadian Blend labelling

A

made from imported must or wine

‘International blend from imported and domestic wines’

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9
Q

Wine regions in province of Ontario

A

Niagara Peninsula
- Niagara Escarpment
- Niagara-on-the-Lake

Lake Erie North Shore

Prince Edward County

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10
Q

Wine regions in province of British Columbia

A

Okanagan Valley

Similkameen Valley

Vancouver Island

Gulf Islands

Fraiser Valley

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11
Q

Province of Ontario

A

similar latitude to Bordeaux

Vineyards neer to Lake Erie and Ontario which moderate the extreme climate
- Long sunshine hours = ripe fruit flavors
- Cooling influence of lakes = high acidity

90% of Canadian Icewine

Roughly equal plantings of whites and reds:
- Vidal, Riesling, Chardonnay
- Cab Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Gamay

85% of grapes must come from the named appellation and the rest can come from elsewhere in Ontario

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12
Q

Niagara Peninsula

A

Largest producing region in Ontario (80%)

Wide variety of soils and microclimates
- wide range of styles

Most vineyards on the benches part way up the escarpment, and slopes above
- others are on the plain next to the lake, and some are above the escarpment

Lake Ontario is very deep and moderates temperature
- lake + escarpment facilitate airflow
- cold air flows down slopes toward lake
- warm air above lake replaces it
- reduces risk of frost and fungal disease
- also provides cooling airflow in summer

2 regional appellations
- Niagara Escarpment
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
- 85% of grapes must come from the sub-appellation, with remainder from anywhere in Niagara Peninsula

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13
Q

Niagara Escarpment

A

Benches and northern slopes of escarpment
- north-facing limestone bluff (rises to ~100m)

Altitude and cooling lake breezes make it the coolest part of Peninsula
- high level of acidity

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (some Cab Franc and Riesling)

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14
Q

Niagara-on-the-Lake

A

Relatively flat land by lake
- slightly warmer than Escarpment

Proximity to lake reduces the drop in night time temperatures and keeps autumns warm longer

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cab Franc
- slightly riper than Escarpment
- Better suited to Bordeaux style red blends

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15
Q

Lake Erie North Shore

A

Almost completely surrounded by water
- Includes a number of islands

Shallowest of Great lakes (temp changes more quickly)
- winter freeze is more of a concern here than in Niagara

Warmest vineyard area in Ontario
- Merlot, Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
- more ripe but less structure than Niagara

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16
Q

Prince Edward County

A

Ontario’s most northerly appellation

Almost entirely surrounded by water
- exposed to winter winds from Lake Ontario
- winter freeze is a regular concern (burying or covering vines)

limestone plateau with stony topsoil which radiates heat at night

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
- extremely high acidity

17
Q

British Columbia

A

Cool maritime climate near coast

Continental Okanagan Valley

Further north than Ontario
- shorter growing season but days are longer
- wide diurnal range
- ripe fruit flavors and high acidity

1980’s vine pull scheme targeting hybrids

Roughly equal amounts of red and white
- Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon
- riper, with higher tannins than Ontario
- Pinot Gris, Chardonnay

If an appellation is stated, 95% of grapes must come from the appellation, the rest from elsewhere in British Columbia

18
Q

Okanagan Valley

Climate, topography, soils, and hazards

A

Wide range of climates (cool north, hot desert in south)

Irrigation is essential (free draining soils)

Chain of lakes (smaller than Great Lakes)
- deep Okanagan Lake helps moderate temps
- provides water for irrigation

Altitude (300-600m) creates cool nights
- High diurnal range

Pest and disease is not such a large isssue
- Organic viticulture is increasing

Frost and winter freeze are a concern
- planting on mid-slope reduces risk

19
Q

Okanagan Valley

Varieties

A

North
- cool climate varieties
- Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer

South
- Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
- full-bodied and ripe, often high in alcohol

20
Q

Similkameen Valley

A

Rocky valley with narrow strip of vineyards by Similkameen River

High mountains on each side of river funnel winds down the valley

Similar to Okanagan valley climate but without moderating influence of lakes.
- days are even hotter
- 300-500m of altitude so nights are cold
- wider diurnal range than Okanagan

Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay

21
Q

Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Fraser Valley

A

Cool maritime climate moderated by Pacific

Mild winters without winter freeze concern

Cooler wetter summers (fungal disease)

Only early ripening varieties
- Pinot Noir

22
Q

Canada Wine business

A

Almost all wine (except Icewine) is consumed domestically

Demand exceeds supply (large import of certain styles)

Vineyards tend to be small and family owned

Liquor boards have control over distribution
- Liquor Control Board of Ontario

Most wine is consumed within the same province because regulations make shipping illegal or highly complex
- one reason why wine tourism is an important route to market