Canada
Canada is a wine-producing country in North America whose modern industry is concentrated in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. Despite its northerly latitude, the combination of moderating lakes, diverse soils and innovations in cool-climate viticulture has enabled the production of internationally recognised table wines and the development of Ice wine, a style that has become a national speciality.[1]
Background
Viticulture in Canada has a fragmented history shaped by climate and regulation. Early attempts in the 19th century often relied on hybrids and native North American species, as the harsh winters limited the survival of European Vitis vinifera. The Prohibition era curtailed development, and it was not until the second half of the 20th century that the industry regained momentum, especially with plantings of vinifera varieties in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula and British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.[2]
Climate and Regions
Canadian vineyards are strongly influenced by a continental climate, moderated by large lakes and, in British Columbia, by mountain ranges. Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula benefits from the Great Lakes, which provide frost protection and extend the growing season. The Okanagan Valley in British Columbia is semi-arid, requiring irrigation, but experiences long daylight hours and significant diurnal variation. Smaller but growing regions include Nova Scotia, known for sparkling wines, and Quebec, where cold-hardy hybrids are important.[3]
Grapes and Styles
Canada produces both white and red table wines, with Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc among the principal vinifera varieties. However, the country is most closely associated with Ice wine, made from grapes such as Riesling and Vidal that are naturally frozen on the vine. This style, first commercialised in the 1970s, has become a flagship export, particularly from Ontario.[4]
Regulation and Classification
Canada introduced the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) in the late 1980s, establishing standards for origin, permitted varieties, and quality. Ontario and British Columbia adopted the system to regulate their appellations, defining geographical boundaries such as Niagara Peninsula and Okanagan Valley. VQA status ensures wines are produced from 100% Canadian-grown grapes and meet prescribed analytical and sensory benchmarks.[5]
Contemporary Position
The Canadian wine industry has earned recognition for its cool-climate expressions, particularly aromatic whites and sparkling wines, while Ice wine continues to hold a unique place in global markets. Though production volumes are modest compared to leading wine nations, exports and domestic interest have expanded steadily since the 1990s.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ Robinson (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Wine, Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.
- ↑ Pinney, A History of Wine in America, Volume 2: From Prohibition to the Present, University of California Press, 2005, ISBN 978-0520241767.
- ↑ Johnson & Robinson, The World Atlas of Wine, 8th ed., Mitchell Beazley, 2019, ISBN 978-1784724030.
- ↑ Stevenson, The Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia, 5th ed., DK, 2011, ISBN 978-0756686840.
- ↑ VQA Ontario, “Wine Standards and Classifications in Canada”, vqaontario.ca.
- ↑ Robinson (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Wine, Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.