North America - Canada / Mexico

Question 1

Canada Location

Answer 1

The Northern Part of North America spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and north to the Arctic Ocean.

Question 2

Canada Geography: Climate Categories

Answer 2

Primary wine growing areas sit within the 30-50° latitude lines. Climates range from Cool to Continental to Desert

Question 3

Canada Physical Features

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Canada Grape Growing

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Winemaking in Canada

Answer 5

(-) Make wines based on what the climate does best
(-) Still Wine (red white and rosé)
(-) Sparkling Wine
(-) Ice Wine

Question 6

Canada White Grape Variety Names

Answer 6

Chardonnay
Riesling Vidal
Pinot Gris
Gewürztraminer

Question 7

Canada Red Grape Variety Names

Answer 7

Pinot Noir
Merlot
Cabernet Franc

Question 8

Is there a unified wine market

Answer 8

No there is no national wine law. Each individual province has its own laws.

Question 9

What’s the VQA

Answer 9

(-) Vintners Quality Alliance
(-) Primary regulatory body for premium wine.

Question 10

Where in Canada is wine made

Answer 10

Wine is currently made in at least nine of the Canadian provinces with the largest concentrations in British Columbia and Ontario

Question 11

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.

Question 12

Ontario Wine Law / Appellations

Answer 12

Located on Canada’s east coast with influence from the Great Lakes. Ontario produces half of all Canadian wine

Question 13

Where is British Columbia, describe the climate

Answer 13

(-) Located on Canada’s Pacific Coast

(-) Climate varies widely from cool to very warm

(-) The only classified desert in Canada

Question 14

How much of Canada’s Ice wine produce in Ontario

Answer 14

90%

Question 15

Main vinicultural area in Ontario

Answer 15

Niagara Peninsula

Question 16

Producer / Proprietary Brands in Canada

Answer 16

Inniskillen

Question 17

Food pairings in Canada

Answer 17

Sweet and savory pairings with Icewine

Question 18

What’s the main vinicultural area in British Columbia

Answer 18

(-) Okanagan Valley

(-) On the 50-degree latitude line

(-) Continental climate with very hot summers and very cold winters

(-) Lake Okanagan moderates

Question 19

Mexico climate categories

Answer 19

Hot Mediterranean to Semi-desert

Question 20

Mexico Physical features

Answer 20

(-) Pacific Ocean: Provides climate moderating fog and cooling breezes

(-) Mountains: Cooler at higher elevations, diurnal shifts with cooler nights

Question 21

Soil type in Mexico

Answer 21

Mixed with sand

Question 22

Grape growing in Mexico

Answer 22

(-) 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

Question 23

Winemaking in Mexico

Answer 23

(-) Non-traditional blends
(-) The goal to produce premium wine, some new is oak is used

Question 24

White Grape Variety in Mexico

Answer 24

Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay
Viognier
Sauvignon Blanc

Question 25

Red Grape Variety Names in Mexico

Answer 25

Tempranillo
Nebbiolo
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot,
Zinfandel
Grenache
Barbera

Question 26

Wine laws in Mexico

Answer 26

No wine laws!

Question 27

Wine Law / Appellations in Mexico

Answer 27

(-) Baja California- Valle de Guadalupe
(-) 90% of Mexican wine production

Question 28

Describe Baja California- Valle de Guadalupe

Answer 28

(-) 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

Question 29

Wine Styles

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Mexico wine region early history

Answer 30

(-) 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.

Question 31

Mexico wine region modern history

Answer 31

Despite the region’s long history, the advance of modern Mexican wine is as recent as the 1970s