Oct 16 2009
About wine and grapes in Canada
Canada is known all over the world as a New World wine country. The reason it is not an Old World wine country is in specific climate of this region which at first created an opinion that grapes can’t grow there at all. But due to the right decisions of wise Canadian vintners now we can enjoy elegant and light taste of Canadian wines.
All types of wines in Canada are made from one sort of grapes or from the mix of two or more types of it. But in connection with a cool climate only few common types of grapes are used for production different kinds of wine that varies from sweet wines to dry or even ice wine types.
Now we will have deep conversation about grapes’ variety that is grown in Canadian wine areas and about outstanding types of Canadian wines.
First grape type with a strong character that was identified to survive in cool weather of Canada was Riesling. Riesling was decided to grow in Ontario- one of the two main Canadian wine regions. Nowadays we can find semi-dry and dry wine produced from Riesling grapes, but they have one common detail – their bouquet has some citrus notes with a little taste of honey. This kind of grapes is late grapes type with finesse of taste and elegance of aroma, some kinds of Riesling are good for producing unique Ice wine. Also Canada produces sparkling wine types using Riesling grapes.
Another grape kind, Vidal, was brought from France and was adapted to Canadian climate. It is usually used for making harvest late vidal wine practically of all kinds including Ice wine. Wines from Vidal grapes have in their taste shades of peach, pear and hazelnut with notes of honey.
Canada is also well known for producing its own Chardonnay wine with good structure due to creation of balance of ingredients with little fruit notes.
Another Canadian wine region is called British column. There they produce another wine kind called Pinot Blanc which is excellent in taste and aroma and Pinot Gris famous for its spicy taste and fullness of flavour. British column is also noted for producing such wines as Bacchus, Semillon Chenin Blanc and other wine kinds.
Also as well as in British column, Ontario produce such wine type as bordeaux wine. If you want to taste something spicy and floral you must certainly try Canadian Bordeaux wine, its elegance and tropical aroma won’t leave you indifferent.
Another grapes kind produced in Canada is Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines made from Canadian Cabernet Sauvignon can be light with little notes of raspberry and spices or deep with chocolate and blackberry flavour. This sort of grapes characterized itself as a strong sort which can endure the cold Canadian weather. Canadian Cabernet Sauvignon is also famous like a basic ingredient for full flavoured wine called Meritage from the family of Bordeaux wines.
For creation of fluffy wines with plum and blackberry flavour Canadians grow such sort of grapes as Merlot.
If you want to try wine which will be suitable for all food types you should try wine that was made from Baco Noir or Maréchal Foch types of grapes and we are sure you won’t be disappointed in your choice.
