Cananda

Question 1

When did Vitis vinifera vines begin being planted on a commerical scale in Canada?

Answer 1

Not until the 1970’s.

Question 2

What is De Chaunac?

Answer 2

A red French hybrid developed by Albert Seibel but introduced to Canada after World War II by Adhemar de Chaunac, became one of Canada’s most planted varieties by the 1970s. Early-ripening, productive, disease-resistant, dark-skinned french hybrid grown for a wide range of wine styles in the Finger Lakes region and in Ontario in Canada.

-He also oversaw the successful introduction of ten acres of Chardonnay at Brights Wines in Ontario, predating Dr. Konstantin Frank’s achievement in New York by just a few years.

Question 3

How many wineries remained in Canada in 1974?

Answer 3

6 wineries remained. After Canadian Prohibition, a moratorium was placed on new winery licenses, and larger wineries like Brights swallowed up the smaller producers who struggled through prohibition.

-However, the end of the moratorium in 1974 signaled the beginning of a new era of small premium production and vinifera wines, with the founding of Inniskillin in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Question 4

Who almost singlehandedly created an international reputation for Canadian icewine?

Answer 4

Inniskillin in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Question 5

What is the only French hybrid allowed for VQA icewine?

Answer 5

Vidal. Usually, the most noteworthy wines come from Riesling and Cabernet Franc.

Question 6

What is the appellation and quality control system in Canada and when was it established?

Answer 6

Vintners’ Quality Alliance (VQA) was launched in Ontario in 1988 (did not gain the force of law until 1999). British Columbia established its VQA standards in 1990. Ontario and British Columbia. VQA standards are legally enforced in Ontario, but voluntary in British Columbia—approved bottlings will always carry the stylized VQA logo.

Question 7

What are the percentage of grapes required VQA by province?

Answer 7

VQA wines from Ontario or British Columbia must be made from 100% of grapes grown in the respective province.

Question 8

What are the percentage of grape required by appellation in Ontario or British Columbia?

Answer 8

95% by appellation in British Columbia

85% by appellation and regional appellations in Ontario

Question 9

What are percentage of grapes required VQA by sub-appellations (in Niagara Peninsula).

Answer 9

100%

Question 10

What are the precentage of grapes required by VQA

• By single vineyard labeling in either province?
• By vintage in either province (what is the exception)?
• By varietal wines in either province?

Answer 10

-100% by single vineyard

-85% for vintage dated wines in either province.
(With the exception of sparkling wine)(In Ontario, all VQA wines must state a vintage, with the exception of sparkling, fortified, and liqueur wines)

-85% of the variety for both regions.

Question 11

What is the seperate organization for Nova Scotia for certification?

Answer 11

Wines of Nova Scotia-A private producers’ associtation that has created certification marks for its members.

Question 12

When are hybrid grapes allowed for varietal labeling in Ontario?

Answer 12

Only allowed if the provincial area (Ontario) is the only stated geographical indication.

Question 13

What is a “Meritage” in Ontario?

Answer 13

These wines are red and white blends of 2 or more Bordeaux varieties, and no variety may exceed 90% of the blend.

Question 14

What is “Estate bottled” in Ontario?

Answer 14

Must contain 100% of grapes grown in the same vintage year, on land owned or controlled by the winery. The wine must be produced and bottled on the winery premises.

Question 15

Can you Chaptalize under VQA standards? Acidify?

Answer 15

Yes, but there are limits. Chaptalization is not authorized for the production of late harvest or icewine. Acidification, must weights, and other various technical aspects of winemaking also has set limits.

Question 16

What are the three main appellations, or viticultural areas of Ontario?

Answer 16

Niagara Peninsula
Lake Erie North Shore
Prince Edward County

A fourth appellation, Pelee Island (Canada’s southernmost point and smallest viticultural area, situated several miles of the shoreline of Lake Erie), was in existence until 2013, when it was formally deregulated.

Question 17

What lakes are all three appellations of Ontario located on?

Answer 17

Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Question 18

What latitude are Ontarios appellations located between?

Answer 18

41°-44° in latitude, where the cool continental climate is mitigated by the lake effect of the Great Lakes, although the effect dissipates quickly as one travels away from the coast.

Question 19

What is the largest viticultural area in Ontario. How is it divided?

Answer 19

The Niagara Peninsula is the largest viticultural area, and is subdivided into two regional appellations: Niagara Escarpment and Niagara-on-the-Lake

Question 20

What are the dominant vinifera varieties in Niagara Peninsula?

Answer 20

Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir.

Question 21

Describe Icewine

Answer 21

• Icewine, a German style adopted in Niagara Peninsula by Inniskillin, sweet wine made from ripe grapes picked when frozen on the vine and pressed so that water crystals remain in the press and the sugar content of the resulting wine is increased. Remains one of the most acclaimed wines of the region.
• wines are concentrated, intensely sweet and rich, yet they retain acidity for balance.

Question 22

Prince Edward County VQA
Est.?
Sub-Appellation?
Common grapes? 
Major natural features?
Key producer?

Answer 22

—Est. 2007
—South Islands (contains 9 islands, including Pelee Island)
—Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are common.
—Major Natural Features: Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario
—Key producer: Norman Hardie

Question 23

What are the five VQA Designated Viticultural Areas (DVAs) of British Columbia?

Answer 23

Vancouver Island
Fraser Valley
Similkameen Valley
Gulf Islands
Okanagan Valley

Question 24

What parallel is Lake Okanagan Valley?

How much of BC wine is from Lake Okanagan Valley?

What is the climate of Lake Okanagan?

What grape varieties are used?

Answer 24

• One of the world’s most northerly wine regions, reaching northward of the 49th parallel.
• 82% of British Columbia’s wine
• Continental climate, mitigation by nearby Lake Okanagan. Summers are hotter than in California’s coastal regions, and winters are much colder, bringing annual fears of significant vine damage.
• grapes evenly divided between white and red grapes, with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot, and Pinot Blanc enjoying significant acreage

Question 25

What two mountains does Okanagan Valley lie between? How do they effect the climate of Okanagan Valley?

Answer 25

Cascades and the Monashee Mountains.

The Okanagan lies in the Interior Plateau, between the Coast Mountains and Cascade to the west and the Monashee Mountains to the east. The Coast Mountains and the Cascade will provide a rain shadow for the valley.

Question 26

Who is Walter Hanlie?

Answer 26

Produced icewine on a very small scale in Okanagan Valley in 1973, prior to Inniskillin’s inception.

Question 27

What VQA goes into the United States?

Answer 27

Similkameen Valley

Question 28

When must Canadian producers declare their intent to make icewine?

What temperature do they begin to harvest?

Answer 28

Hopeful producers declare their intent to produce icewine to the VQA in November, and allow grapes to remain on the vine into the winter, finally harvesting the frozen grapes at night, when temperatures reach at least -8° C.

Question 29

Niagara Peninsula sub-appellations not included in a regional appellation?
Locations?

Answer 29

• -Creek Shores (north of Short Hills Bench and Twenty Mile Bench; east of Lincoln Lakeshore)
• -Lincoln Lakeshore (north of Beamsville Bench; west of Creek Shores)
• **Niagara Escarpement sub-appellations divide Lincoln Lakeshore and Creek Shores from Vinemount Ridge
• -Vinemount Ridge (along the southern portion of the Niagara Escarpment sub appellations)

Question 30

Niagara-on-the-Lake (regional appellation)? (N-S)

Answer 30

• -Niagara Lakeshore (northern most)
• -Niagara River (small strip lines the other three appellations on the east)
• -Four Mile Creek
• -St. David’s Bench

Question 31

Sub appellations of Niagara Escarpment (regional appellation) (E-W)?

Answer 31

• -Short Hills Bench
• -Twenty Mile Bench
• -Beamsville Bench

Question 32

Sub appellations of Lake Erie North Shore

Answer 32

South Islands (contains 9 islands, including Pelee Island; previously declassified and now reclassified)

Question 33

What are the subzones (official and unofficial) of Okanagan Valley GI

Answer 33

Official subzone:
Golden Mile GI (est. 2014)

Unofficial subzones: Black Sage/Osoyoos, Kelowna, Naramata, Okanagan Falls

Question 34

What is the minimum must weight and minimum residual sugar for Ontario and British Columbia?

Answer 34

Both are 32° Brix (after pressing) and 100g/l

Question 35

What is the shape of an icewine bottle called?

Answer 35

Futura. Often found in Moscato di Scanzo DOCG and familiar to Inniskillin icewine.

Question 36

What are the two grapes that make up the cross for the Niagara grape?

Answer 36

Concord x Cassidy

Question 37

What is Vin de Curé?

Answer 37

Vin de Curé literally translates to “Parish Priest’s Wine” and is a style of dried-grape wine made in Ontario.

Question 38

What region is affected by the lakes Skaha, Vaseux, and Osoyoos?

Answer 38

Okanagan Valley

–neighborhing lakes to Lake Okanagan

Question 39

Starting NE and moving clockwise, what lakes form the Ontario wine regions?

Answer 39

Lake Ontario (2 o’clock), Lake Erie (6:00 o’clock), and Lake Huron (10 o’clock)