Canada

Question 1

Canadian wines in the global market?

Answer 1

Top producer of Eiswein
Trying to gain international reputation

Question 2

Canadian appellation system?

Answer 2

VQA - Vintners Quality Alliance
Established in Ontario in 1988
Established in British Columbia in 1990

Question 3

Canadian climate?

Answer 3

Extreme continental
Most vineyards near lakes - reduce winter freeze, increase humidity
Snow insulates vines
Drought concerns
Significant vintage variation

Question 4

Viticulture in Canada?

Answer 4

Very technologically advanced
Canopy management crucial (humidity)
VSP most common
Drip irrigation in drought areas

Question 5

Sustainability in Canada?

Answer 5

Common in Okanagan Valley (hotter/drier)

Question 6

Describe Vidal Blanc:

Answer 6

French Hybrid
Makes the majority of ice wine
High acidity
Slow ripening
Thick skins
Peach, mango

Question 7

Grape varieties grown in Canada?

Answer 7

Vine pull scheme in late 1980’s for hybrids
Vidal Blanc
Bordeaux (Merlot, Cab Franc)
Chard/PN
Aromatic whites (PG, Gewurz, Ries)

Question 8

Winemaking practices in Canada?

Answer 8

Ambient yeast use increasing
Unfiltered wines
Less new oak
Chaptalization sometimes practiced

Question 9

Icewine winemaking?

Answer 9

Fermentation stops naturally at 9-11% ABV
200-250 g/L RS
Usually Vidal, but Riesling is highest quality
Can be Cab Franc, Gewurz, or Chard

Question 10

Describe Icewine viticulture?

Answer 10

Primarily in Ontario
More machine harvest due to labor challenges
Very low yields (10% of still)
February harvest

Question 11

Icewine legality and value in market?

Answer 11

“Icewine” trademarked by Canadian Vintners Association
Must be naturally frozen on vine
100% grown in Canada
VInifera or Vidal only
Sugar addition prohibited
13% of total volume, but 58% of export value

Question 12

Canadian wine laws?

Answer 12

85% varietal
100% vinifera or permitted hybrids
Large amounts of imported must/wine used - now must say “International blend” as of 2018

Question 13

Describe Ontario:

Answer 13

7000 hectares
Lakes Erie/Ontario moderate
Long sunshine hours - ripe fruit
Clay/sand/limestone
90% of icewine
Vidal (icewine), Riesling, Cab Franc predominant

Question 14

Sub-AVAs of Ontario:

Answer 14

Niagara Peninsula
Lake Erie North Shore
Prince Edward County

Question 15

Describe Niagara Peninsula:

Answer 15

80% of Ontario’s wine
Site diversity
Niagara Escarpment - north facing limestone bluff
Lake/escarpment provide cooling air in summer, warming in winter

Question 16

Sub AVA’s of Niagara Peninsula?

Answer 16

Niagara Escarpment: cold; Chard, PN, Cab Franc, Riesling

Niagara-on-the-Lake: slightly warmer; Bordeaux-style reds

Question 17

Describe Lake Erie North Shore:

Answer 17

Winter freeze common (shallow Lake Erie)
Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv
More ripe fruit, less structure

Question 18

Describe Prince Edward County:

Answer 18

Most northerly
Surrounded by water
Winter winds/winter freeze
Vines often buried or covered
Stony, reflective soil
Pinot Noir/Chardonnay - extremely high acidity

Question 19

Describe British Columbia:

Answer 19

4200+ hectares
Merlot and Pinot Gris most planted
Riper/fuller bodied styles
95% appellation law

Question 20

Describe Okanagan Valley:

Answer 20

85% of British Columbia
Loam/sandy soils
Low rainfall (irrigation essential)
Okanagan lake moderates/provides irrigation

Question 21

Describe Simikameen Valley:

Answer 21

Simikameen River + mountains on both sides create wind funnel
Wide diurnal range
Merlot, PN, Cab Sauv, Chard

Question 22

Describe Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, and Fraser Valley

Answer 22

Cool, maritime coastal
Mild winters
Pinot Noir and early ripening varietals

Question 23

Canadian wine business?

Answer 23

Almost all domestic consumption except Icewine
Demand exceeds supply - large importer
Export 1.5mil L - China, USA, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan