North America - Canada / Mexico Flashcards
Canada Location
The Northern Part of North America spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and north to the Arctic Ocean.
Canada Geography: Climate Categories
Primary wine growing areas sit within the 30-50° latitude lines. Climates range from Cool to Continental to Desert
Canada Physical Features
Oceans: Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
Great Lakes: Very deep and rarely freeze helping moderate the winter climate. Lakes and oceans help cool in the climate in the warm summers.
Canada Grape Growing
Winter hardy varieties able to stay alive in the deep winter freezes
French and American hybrids: Winter hardy/able to stay alive in the deep winter freezes example: Vidal
Winemaking in Canada
(-) Make wines based on what the climate does best
(-) Still Wine (red white and rosé)
(-) Sparkling Wine
(-) Ice Wine
Canada White Grape Variety Names
Chardonnay
Riesling Vidal
Pinot Gris
Gewürztraminer
Canada Red Grape Variety Names
Pinot Noir
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Is there a unified wine market
No there is no national wine law. Each individual province has its own laws.
What’s the VQA
(-) Vintners Quality Alliance
(-) Primary regulatory body for premium wine.
Where in Canada is wine made
Wine is currently made in at least nine of the Canadian provinces with the largest concentrations in British Columbia and Ontario
British Columbia:
Located on Canada’s Pacific Coast. Climate varies
widely from cool to very warm. The only classified
desert in Canada
Okanagan Valley (main viticultural area)
On the 50-degree latitude line. Continental climate
with very hot summers and very cold winters. Lake
Okanagan moderates.
Ontario:
Niagara Peninsula (main viticultural area)
** Ice Wine: Ontario produces 90% of Canadian ice
wine.
Ontario Wine Law / Appellations
Located on Canada’s east coast with influence from the Great Lakes. Ontario produces half of all Canadian wine
Where is British Columbia, describe the climate
(-) Located on Canada’s Pacific Coast
(-) Climate varies widely from cool to very warm
(-) The only classified desert in Canada
How much of Canada’s Ice wine produce in Ontario
90%
Main vinicultural area in Ontario
Niagara Peninsula
Producer / Proprietary Brands in Canada
Inniskillen
Food pairings in Canada
Sweet and savory pairings with Icewine
What’s the main vinicultural area in British Columbia
(-) Okanagan Valley
(-) On the 50-degree latitude line
(-) Continental climate with very hot summers and very cold winters
(-) Lake Okanagan moderates
Mexico climate categories
Hot Mediterranean to Semi-desert
Mexico Physical features
(-) Pacific Ocean: Provides climate moderating fog and cooling breezes
(-) Mountains: Cooler at higher elevations, diurnal shifts with cooler nights
Soil type in Mexico
Mixed with sand
Grape growing in Mexico
(-) Water is in short supply
(-) Irrigation is essential in the hot, arid climate
(-) A melting pot of Italian, French and Spanish grape varieties
(-) Sandy soils keep away phylloxera
Winemaking in Mexico
(-) Non-traditional blends
(-) The goal to produce premium wine, some new is oak is used
White Grape Variety in Mexico
Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay
Viognier
Sauvignon Blanc
Red Grape Variety Names in Mexico
Tempranillo
Nebbiolo
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot,
Zinfandel
Grenache
Barbera
Wine laws in Mexico
No wine laws!
Wine Law / Appellations in Mexico
(-) Baja California- Valle de Guadalupe
(-) 90% of Mexican wine production
Describe Baja California- Valle de Guadalupe
(-) Mediterranean climate
(-) Produces 90% of Mexico’s Wine
(-) Southwest to northeast valleys cutting through the mountains bringing in fog and cooling Pacific Ocean breezes.
(-) 3704 feet/1129 meters of elevation
(-) Exciting wine region and tourist destination, modern winemaking
Wine Styles
White wines can range from crisp and dry to round and full-bodied depending on the grape variety.
The red wines are fruit-driven, deeply colored and have elevated alcohol due to the warm climate.
Mexico wine region early history
(-) Mexico is the oldest wine industry outside of Europe.
(-) 1520s Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés defeated the Aztec Empire claiming it for Spain.
(-) Orders from The King of Spain degreed planting vines per each native slave.
(-) 1595 winemaking in New Spain (Mexico) was prohibited by Spanish law until Mexican Independence in 1821.
Mexico wine region modern history
Despite the region’s long history, the advance of modern Mexican wine is as recent as the 1970s
