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Ontario’s
grape and wine country has captured the attention of enthusiastic
wine lovers worldwide. While Ontario produces a small percentage
of the world’s wine output, its quality speaks loud and
clear. Led by the emergence of Icewine as its flagship product,
Ontario has achieved an international reputation for quality
wines, as proven by the many awards, citations
and honours achieved in the past 25 years.
Grape
production in Ontario originates from four designated
Viticultural Areas: Niagara
Peninsula,
Lake
Erie North Shore, Pelee
Island and Prince
Edward County. There are approximately 15,000
acres under vine in these four areas, which all have
excellent combinations of the right climate, growing season
and soils – terroir – and evolving viticultural
practices, to grow high quality grapes.
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To
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Ontario
is the largest producer of Vidal in Canada. Vidal (a French
hybrid) is the main grape variety used in the production of
Icewine, a premium dessert wine. Ontario is the world leader in
Icewine production.Ontario’s
grape and wine country is classified as a cool climate viticulture
region. However, our grape-growing areas in Niagara and southwestern
Ontario experience hot summers, which help produce excellent
vintages.
Other
cool climate grape-growing regions include the Okanagan Valley
in Canada’s British Columbia, Oregon and Washington states
in the U.S., and New Zealand. Germany, and the Burgundy region
in France, are also cool climate regions, particularly suited
for growing grapes like Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
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Tongue
in cheek
essay on terroir.
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