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Canadian Wines

Overview
Wine Growing Regions

Overview

As in much of North America, grape growing and winemaking in Canada only started in the 19th century. Ontario and British Columbia, however, have seen recent dramatic developments in their wine industries that have raised their status to wine regions that are now respected world wide.

All Canadian viticulture is by definition cool climate. Most of the grape growing in the various regions is near to or at the northern limit for the cultivation of wine grapes. This means that Canada's best wines will have many of the features that characterize cool climate wines: intense aromas and flavours, crisp and refreshing acidity and a high degree of complexity.

Wine Growing Areas

Canada's two largest wine regions are in Ontario and British Columbia. Their history and characteristics are covered well in the respective category descriptions.
Quebec has a much smaller and newer industry that is only just starting to develop. The climate is harsher than in, for example, Ontario's Niagara peninsula or BC's Okanagan Valley, so grape growers are often limited in the kind of grape varieties they can successfully cultivate.
Nova Scotia in the Maritimes has a small wine industry based mainly on French-American hybrid grape varieties.
Prince Edward Island is home to a small acreage of wine grapes.
These and other areas of Canada feature quite a number of fruit wineries, using apples, pears, berries and more unusual ingredients.

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Subcategories

Resources in This Category

Andrew Peller, Ltd.

http://www.andrewpeller.com/
Corporate parent of Hillebrand Estates, Peller Estates, Sandhill, Hillebrand, Trius, Red Rooster, Calona, and Thirty Bench in Ontario and British Columbia. Includes information about their brands, wines, and company.
Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers

http://sommelierscanada.com/
An association for the sommelier profession, restaurant services, and other sectors of the wine industry.
Canadian Vintners Association

http://www.canadianvintners.com/
An advocate working cooperatively with governments and other stakeholders to find solutions that benefit both society and the entire Canadian wine industry.
Commanderie de Bordeaux à Calgary

http://commanderiedebordeaux.wordpress.com/
Alberta-based club devoted to the appreciation of the wines of Bordeaux. Provides details on events, tasting notes, and some Bordeaux links.
Opimian - The Wine Society of Canada

http://www.opim.ca/
The country's largest wine appreciation club offers tastings, tours, Wine Tidings magazine, and non-profit cooperative purchasing. Includes a club profile, event listings, and a reference section.
Rossignol Estate Winery

http://www.rossignolwinery.com/
Makes a wide range of grape and fruit wines on Prince Edward Island's south shore. Features product descriptions, a company profile, and a picture gallery.
The Grape d'Vine

http://www.thegrapedvine.ca/
Supervised DIY wine making. Serving Quispamsis and Sussex, New Brunswick.
Vines to Vintages

http://www.vinestovintages.ca/
Supplying quality equipment and fermentation products for amateur winemakers and wineries across Canada. Two locations: Jordan, Ontario and Penticton, BC.

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