Canada - the world's second-largest country by area - is far from the most obvious of wine-producing nations, yet its vineyards are capable of producing both quality and quantity. Powerful Cabernets and AromaticDryGrape/riesling">Rieslings play an important role in the country's wine portfolio, but the deliciously Sweet Icewine (mostly white, but also red) is unquestionably the quintessential Canadian wine style. Making the most of their consistently cold winter temperatures, Canadian wine producers have become world leaders in ice wine production.
The Canadian wine industry is primarily based in four provinces: Ontario and British Columbia, which are responsible for 98% of quality wine production, and Quebec and Nova Scotia, which are emerging wine regions with a small but loyal local following.
Despite Canada's geographic vastness, its annual wine production is only 2% of that of the United States.
Some of Canada's wine regions experience hot, sometimes humid summers and extremely cold winters. All of Canada's major wine-producing regions are close to Climate-modifying water sources that are essential to the survival of the vines in frosty weather. The Niagara Peninsula, on the southern shores of Lake Ontario, is perhaps Canada's most famous wine region, although the dry, near-desert Okanagan Valley in British Columbia has tried to make its mark in recent decades.
Flanked by the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic oceans, and with more coastline than any other country in the world, Canada's climate and landscape are heavily influenced by water. This is not only true for the coastal areas, as the interior of the country is home to many lakes of varying sizes.
The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) is a regulatory Body that represents a designation-based approach to Canadian wine. Membership in the VQA allows winemakers to use the VQA logo on their wines, which provides a degree of quality assurance to potential consumers.
From the vineyards of Oregon on the west coast to those of New York’s Long Island in the east, the wine regions of the United States are vast and varied. And increasingly important to us here at Decanter – across not only the magazine and website, but our Decanter Premium channel online, the annual Decanter World Wine Awards and events such as our inaugural New York Decanter Fine Wine Encounter in June 2022. We strive to provide the best coverage for our international audience and so felt it was ...
President of Inter Rhône Philippe Pellaton put forward the body’s ambitious commercial strategy from now until 2035 at the Maison des Vins on 8th December. The Rhône Valley continues to make considerably more red wine than white and rosé, but Pellaton explained that reweighting the split of different colours will be one of their principal policies. Their intention is to increase production of white wines with a view to doubling shipments between now and 2031. ‘Historically, Rhône Valley Vineyard ...
Saturday 6 May marks the 14th annual International Sauvignon Blanc Day. One of the world’s most popular grape varieties, and one of the most widely-planted, Sauvignon Blanc is recognised worldwide for its fresh and aromatic qualities. Sauvignon Blanc has found many places to call home, from New Zealand where it has gained worldwide recognition and acclaim, the Loire Valley, France where the grape originates, to South Africa, Chile, the USA and beyond. Premium read – Celebrating Sauvi ...
