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The majority of Canada's winemaking
is associated with British
Columbia, and justly so. The wines of British Columbia have
become world-class competitors in the last 20 years. However, wine
is made in all of Canada's provinces, often under much more
difficult conditions, and many of these small family businesses are
beginning to produce award winning vintages.
Canada extends 7,800 km (4, 875 mi) from the Pacific to the Atlantic
Ocean, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island off the west coast of
British Columbia.
However, despite the country's reputation for northern latitudes and
cold winters, some parts actually lie further south than the famous
Burgundy region in France. Ontario, for example lies between the
41st and 52nd latitudes, putting it at the parallel as Bordeaux,
France and California's Napa Valley.
Enormous land mass, oceans and numerous fresh water lakes and tall
mountains give Canada a wide variety of micro-climates that the
growers take good advantage of in producing wine grapes. Most often
grown are some variety of vinifera, long thought to not thrive so
far north. Old traditions combined with modern science allow them to
do well even in Quebec.
A temperate climate provides up to 190 frost free growing days per
year for one of the newest wineries, the Bosc family's Chateau des
Charmes, which was founded in 1978 and is located in the Niagara
Peninsula.
Perfectly located on the south of Lake Ontario at 44 degrees
latitude, this enormous Chateau is headquarters to vineyards that
produce an excellent Chardonnay, barrel fermented and aged in French
oak barrels. This results in a full-bodied buttery wine with flavors
of tropical fruit and melon that pairs well with poultry or pasta.
The Cabernet Sauvignon is another favorite with a deep ruby color
and the bouquet of cassis and bell pepper. It is full-bodied and
provides an excellent match for prime rib, and can age for 5-10
years.
Niagra is also home to Coyote's Run which opened its doors in May,
2004. The harvest in this area occurs 1-2 weeks earlier than most
other area vineyards because of the heavy limestone clay, the warm
breezes off the water, and the 3C (5.4F) higher average temperature.
The dark brown clay common to the area produces a grape distinctly
different from that of the more fruity and perfumed from red clay.
This small entrepreneur is certain to grow in the coming years.
Montreal is also home to some of Quebec's wineries, located on the
western section of the glacial plain. A medium-body red is produced
from a blend of Caberne Severnyi, Frontenac and Landot in this area.
It is filled with ripe black fruit flavors with hints of oak,
licorice, and vanilla. It is aged in American oak.
Tiny Prince Edward Island also gets into the act, where harsh
climate requires that some varieties be grown in greenhouses. Seyval
Blanc, Marechal, Ortega and others produce a nicely acid balanced
Rossignol wine.
Nova Scotia hosts 22 grape growers where French hybrids Marechal
Foch, Baco Noir, and DeChaunac are grown, however ice-wine remains
the specialty.
There are many others such as Alberta where sunshine ranges from
1,900 hours in the north to 2, 300 hours in the south, where the
Rockies produce warm, dry Chinook winds. One Chinook raised the
temperature from -19C (-2.2F) to 3.3C (38F) in a single hour.
Saskatchewan in the heart of North America, bordered on the south by
Montana and North Dakota.
Manitoba, which was once a flood plain, but now sees cold winters
and sunny summers averaging 25C (77F).
All of these and many more give evidence of Canada's unquenchable
desire to grow the winemaking business into one which will take its
place on the world stage.
Swirl the wine gently, sniff and taste.
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