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Canadian wines
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Tip of the week
Wine from the mighty forests of British Columbia
“I’ve recently sampled a wine from Canada. I didn’t know they made wines in Canada; have you any information about them?”
S.W., email
Canadian wines are made in two main areas, a long way away from each other. In the south of British Columbia, virtually due east of Vancouver, there is a protected valley named after the moderating lake Okanagan. This area is just to the north of Washington State in the USA, itself an emerging wine region.
Although the very cold climate this far north doesn’t ideally suit the vine, this is tempered by the proximity of the water and with big day/night temperature variations, certain grape varieties that ripen early are grown quite successfully. Gewurztraminer is very popular, as are some of the other Alsace varieties. |
Go Canadian... |
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Further east, and far more important in volume terms is the equally challenging area contained within the Niagara peninsula, on the southern side of lake Ontario. Again the moderating effect of the mass of water assists the over-wintering of the vine and several varieties can be sustained here. Grenache, Pinot Gris and Merlot varieties are grown as well as the Alsace varieties mentioned in BC. Icewine, made in the same manner as the German ‘Eiswein’ with late-picked frozen grapes is also a tourist favourite here, although very expensively gift wrapped.
I have tasted a very tangy, lime fruity Pinot Gris, and a Grenache that fooled some blind tasters into thinking that it was a Rioja, so there is much to be optimistic about in Canada’s first efforts.
Stockists in this country are very few especially on the high street, as production levels are very limited. |
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