Canada wine region

Most of Canada’s wine output is produced in British Columbia, in the west, and Ontario, in the east.

Very small amounts of wine are also made in Alberta and Nova Scotia.

British Columbia:

British Columbia is a large, diverse region to the far west of Canada. Its wineries are all located in the southwest of the region, in close proximity to the border with Washington State in the USA.

The most important sub-region is Okanagan Valley, where the majority of the region’s wine is produced. The valley is sheltered from the cooling influence of the Pacific and so provides hot, dry conditions that enable grapes to fully ripen.

The most widely planted varieties in British Columbia are:

Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah.

Ontario:

In the east of the country, Ontario is renowned for its ice-wine, particularly that produced in the Niagara Peninsula sub-region.

Ontario’s wine production is all based around the Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario, which help to temper the heat of the summer.

Vidal, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the most commonly grown varieties here – the first two mostly dedicated to the production of ice-wine.