The Canadian wine industry is younger than most around the world, but we are proudly entering our prime time. Most wine production hails from Ontario and British Columbia, with smaller regions in Quebec and Nova Scotia. This summer, celebrate the season’s fresh flavours with local wine that’s sure to delight!
Look for the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) stamp of approval when shopping for wines from British Columbia and Ontario. This symbol signifies that the wine is 100 percent – from grape to glass – from the labelled provinces.
Canada is, obviously, a cool climate wine-growing region (as opposed to year-round warm climates, such as California). This means our wines have a great backbone of acidity and balanced fruit characteristics.
Canadian vintners excel at Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Baco Noir. Our sparkling wines, made in the traditional champagne method, taste world class, and our icewine – frozen grapes harvested at night – is what we’re best known for. We also make interesting fruit wines, such as Southbrook’s Framboise.
Canadian wines are amazingly food-friendly. The crisp acidity of Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect match for green salads, seafood and cream-based dishes. Our Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are elegant and balanced, pairing well with medium-weight foods like pork, risotto and artisanal cheeses. Open a bottle of Cabernet Franc, Merlot or Baco Noir for rich-flavoured meals or alongside sharp cheeses and decadent dark chocolate.
Ontario’s beautiful wine country is a must-visit spot. Highlights include Twenty Valley, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelee Island and Prince Edward County. In British Columbia, explore wines from the picturesque Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
In Quebec, Canada’s third largest wine-producing region, discover wines from Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence River and the Laurentians. Nova Scotia boasts a booming industry, with six beautiful wine-growing regions and 14 unique wineries, such as Benjamin Bridge Vineyards.