Wine Regions of the World

Canada

	"Canada is home to a vibrant, forward thinking wine industry that is focused on creating fine wines from noble grapes."*

Canada’s wineries have made great strides in the past decade. Although wine has been cultivated in Ontario since 1811, it was the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreements of 1989 and 1994 that allowed traditional European grapes to be brought into Canadian vineyards.

Wineries ripped out most of their native North American grape varieties (which had produced some good ports and sherries, but less-than-excellent table wines) over a relatively short period and replaced them with European root stock, resulting in quality whites, late harvest and ice wines that have since garnered world recognition. There are approximately 170 wineries across Canada, many of which are small operations.

The country houses several wine regions, the most notable being Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula and British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Both regions are cooler than many other wine-producing areas of the world, but thanks to “micro-climates” created by each region’s unique geography, they are able to produce notable whites, mainly from Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer grapes. And while the climate doesn’t provide a long enough summer to develop full-bodied reds, the reliable sub-zero winter temperatures allow for excellent ice wines (grapes must be harvested when frozen, and pressed while the air temperature is 18 degrees F or lower) to be produced year after year.

Wines produced in Ontario or British Columbia may be classified by the VQA, or Vintners Quality Alliance, which sets standards for wine production in both regions. The VQA appellation is similar to France’s AOC designation, or Germany’s QmP designation, and represents the country’s finest wines. There are two VQA classifications:

Provincial Designation: Wine comes from a specific province, and is made from 100 per cent Canadian-grown, VQA-approved grapes, at least 85 per cent of which come from the province in which the wine is bottled. Wine must also meet minimum sugar levels.

Designated Viticultural Area (DVA): Wine may come from one of seven DVAs recognized for wine production: B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island; and Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island. Wine must be made entirely from grapes grown within the DVA’s province, with 85 per cent or more coming from the specific DVA. For varietal wines, at least 85 per cent of the wine must come from the designated grape.

In addition, late harvest and ice wines must meet stringent guidelines with regard to grape ripeness levels and bottling procedures. All VQA wines are marked with a VQA medallion, and those of exceptional quality are noted with a gold VQA label.