WINES OF THE WORLD 🇨🇦 Canada Flashcards
Climate of Canada
Extreme continental for Ontario and inland areas of British Columbia.
The effects of Canadian lakes on the vineyards
Lakes moderate temperature, reducing winter freeze, delaying budbreak and so avoiding spring frost, extending the growing season by retaining summer warmth into autumn, generating snow. They increase also humidity.
Hazards in Canada
Fungal disease due to humidity from the lake. Drought in the inland area of British Columbia or drier years in Ontario. Insects (moths, mealy bugs and leafhoppers), birds and mammals (deer and bears). Unpredictable winters due to climate change with the risk of little snow (minimal amount to cover the vines).
Main grape varieties of Canada
In the past, mainly hybrids. Vidal is the main grape for Icewine. Vinifera varieties from late 1980s, Bordeaux, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and aromatic whites (Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Riesling).
Main training systems in Canada
Mainly VSP, some are experimenting with Geneva Double Curtain, Scott Henry and Lyre.
Key viticulture operations during winter in Canada
Snow use to insulate the vines from the cold air, experimenting with geotextiles.
Main Canadian wine-producing provinces
Mainly from Ontario and British Columbia, also Nova Scotia and Quebec.
Icewine
It’s both the sweet wine made from frozen grapes in Canada and the trademark owned by the Canadian Vintners Association.
VQA legislation
In Ontario (1988) and British Columbia (1990):
- grapes grown in the respective province;
- from 100% vinifera varieties or authorised hybrids;
- standards for grape growing and wine production (min must weights, chaptalisation limits);
- wines are tested through panel and laboratory analysis;
- if single variety, 85+% of that variety, if two or more, 95% of those varieties;
- regional appellations and sub-appellations can appear on labels.
Wines produced from imported must or wine are labelled as ‘International blend from imported and domestic wines’ or ‘International blend from domestic and imported wines’, lower prices.
Key operations in the production of Icewine
Harvest at -8°C or below by hand or machine (due to difficulty to find workforce for night harvest). Fermentation stops naturally (9-11% abv) due to high sugar levels (200-250 g/L). Inert vessels to retain aromas, some use oak to add extra flavours. High cost of production, very low yields (10% of still wine) due to grapes dehydrating and damage/lost (bad weather, rot and animals).
Regulations for Icewine
Rigorous standards of production have been incorporated into the VQA system. Made from grapes naturally frozen on the vine, grown in Canada, either from Vidal or vinifera grapes, regulations also on harvesting and winemaking procedures (min sugar levels are prescribed, no artificial concentration or addition of sugars).
Product of Canada
If wine is made entirely from Canadian grapes and doesn’t qualify for VQA status.
Types of businesses that operate in Canada
Small vineyard plantings (especially in British Columbia) owned by both growers and estates. The majority of producers grow their own grapes, and many supplement these with grapes purchased from other growers.
Main grape varieties used in the Icewine production
Icewine is the most famous from Vidal or Riesling (most complex and well-balanced). Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay are also used.
Types of wines made in Canada
Canada is best known for Icewine. Started the production of dry and sparkling wines.
Main appellations of Ontario
- Niagara Peninsula
- Lake Erie North Shore
- Prince Edward County
Lake Erie North Shore
An appellation of Ontario. Along gentle-sloping shoreline of Lake Erie, also some islands included. Vineyard area is surrounded by water. Lake Erie is the shallowest (quick warm in spring and quick cool in autumn), so winter freezing. The warmest area in Ontario, so Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. Riper fruit and less structured wine than those from Niagara Peninsula.
Prince Edward County
An appellation of Ontario, Canada. N Ontario, surrounded by water and fully exposed to winter winds. Winter freeze so producers must to bury or cover the vines. Vineyards on a broad limestone plateau with a stony topsoil that conducts heat and radiates it at night, aiding ripening. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Wines with high acidity.
Type of soils in Ontario
Clay and sand, lesser extent gravel and rocks, high % of limestone around the lakes.
Climate of Ontario
Moderating influence from the lakes, long sunshine hours.
Main grape varieties of Ontario
Vidal mainly. Cool-climate varieties such as Riesling and Chardonnay as whites. Cabernet Franc is the main black, then Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Gamay Noir.
VQA legislation for wines made in Ontario
If wine from appellation, 85+% grapes from that appellation, the rest in Ontario.
Types of wines made in Ontario
90% of Canada’s Icewine. Same % between whites and reds, small rosés.
Canada’s largest wine-producing province
Ontario
Where the vineyards in Niagara Peninsula are located
Most of the vineyards are on benches part way up the escarpment and the slopes just above them, some on the plain directly next to the lake and some above the escarpment.
Climate of Niagara Peninsula
Big influence from Lake Ontario (the deepest and so long time to warm in spring and to cool in autumn) and Niagara Escarpment, aiding the air flow which is warm in winter and cool in summer. The effect is a longer growing season and a fewer risk of fungal disease and frost. Protection from cold west winter-winds by the escarpment. More continental away from the lake.
Main appellations of Niagara Peninsula
- Niagara Escarpment
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara Escarpment
An appellation of Niagara Peninsula. The benches and N slopes of the escarpment, the coolest part of Niagara Peninsula so high acidity. Very good quality from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, also Cabernet Franc and Riesling.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Flat land along the shores of Lake Ontario, slightly warmer, lower diurnal range and longer warmer autumn. Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, but Bordeaux varieties grow very well.
VQA legislation for wines made in Niagara Peninsula
If wine from appellation, 85+% grapes from that appellation, the rest from Niagara Peninsula. If wine from sub-appellation, 100% grapes from that sub-appellation.
Climate of British Columbia
Cool and maritime for the area close to the Pacific, continental inland.
Main grape varieties of British Columbia
Merlot mainly. Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay.
Main appellations of British Columbia
- Okanagan Valley
- Similkameen Valley
- Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands and Fraser Valley
Similkameen Valley
An appellation of British Columbia. W of the southern end of Okanagan Valley, rugged and rocky valley with a narrow strip of agricultural land along the Similkameen River. Constant winds from the mountains. Similar climate to Okanagan Valley, without lake influence, higher diurnal range than Okanagan Valley. Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands and Fraser Valley
An appellation of British Columbia. Small coastal regions, cool maritime climate, influence from Pacific Ocean, mild winters (no freeze) and cooler/wetter summers (fungal disease). Pinot Noir.
VQA legislation for wines made in British Columbia
If wine from appellation, 95+% grapes from that appellation, the rest in British Columbia.
Type of soils in Okanagan Valley
Glacial deposits (loams), more sandy in the south.
Climate of Okanagan Valley
Extreme continental. Cool N and hot S (desert). Moderating influence from the lakes. Low rainfall. Short growing season and long days.
Hazards in Okanagan Valley
Low disease pressure due to dry conditions. Spring frost. Drought.
Main grape varieties of Okanagan Valley
Cool-climate varieties on N areas and E-facing slopes (Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer).
Warm-climate varieties on S and hot areas (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah).
