Canada on the World Map

Canada's wine growing regions are situated within the recognized growing zones of 30 and 50 degrees latitude north, which is shared by many other cool climate wine regions of Europe. Our primary wine-growing regions are the Niagara Peninsula in southern Ontario and the Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia, along with other regions in each of these provinces and smaller producing areas in Quebec and Nova Scotia. Although small in scale by world standards, wine is a growing business in Canada, with wineries sprouting up wherever soil and climate permit the growing of productive vines. The Similkameen Valley, adjacent to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, and Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward County in Ontario, are producing excellent wines, with the industry having undergone a renaissance over the past few decades. All together, Canada's wine growing regions are comprised of 30,415 acres (12,309 hectares) and 602 wineries.

Canada on the World Map

Beyond Icewine

While Canada continues to be proud of its Icewine story, it is quickly becoming discovered for the quality of its table and sparkling wines. Each of Canada’s wine regions have unique growing conditions that allow key varieties to shine and be expressive of their place of origin. Explore each region to find out more about their flagship varieties.

Canada's Primary Wine Regions

British Columbia

48°- 51°
Acres: 11,086 (4,486 Hectares)
Wineries: 282
9 Designated Viticultural Areas (DVAs)
- Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Fraser Valley, Similkameen Valley, Okanagan Valley (+ 4 sub-appellations), Lillooet, Thompson Valley, Shuswap, Kootenays.

Mountainsides, oceans, lakes and the only classified desert in Canada combine to create diverse climates that produce a wide variety of grapes. Primarily vitis vinifera. Top planted whites: Pinot Gris & Chardonnay. Top planted reds: Merlot & Pinot Noir.

Ontario

41°- 44°
Acres: 17,000 (6,900 Hectares)
Wineries: 184
3 Designated Viticultural Areas (DVAs)
- Niagara Peninsula (+ 10 sub-appellations), Prince Edward County, Lake Erie North Shore (+ 1 sub-appellation)

Latitude, lakes and limestone define this region. Ontario’s appellations all enjoy the moderating effect of the Great Lake breezes creating the perfect environment for cool climate grape growing. Primarily vitis vinifera with a focus on the core varieties of Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. Over 100 wineries now produce sparkling wine.

Quebec

45°- 47°
Acres: 1,915 (775 hectares)
Wineries: 125

Quebec wineries produce dry, fortified, sparkling and sweet wines from a variety of cold hardy hybrid grape varieties such as Frontenac Noir, Blanc and Gris, Vidal, Seyval Blanc and Marquette along with smaller amounts of vinifera. Production areas are concentrated to the north and south east of Montreal and around Quebec City.

The geographical area

The PGI Vin du Québec geographic area is bounded by the Laurentian mountain range to the north, by the border along the United States to the south, by Ontario to the west and by the Appalachians to the east. To qualify, the region where the vines are grown must have a minimum of 900 degree-days – a measurement used to analyze the growth of an organism, and calculating the difference between a day’s average temperature and the temperature.

Nova Scotia

44°- 46°
Acres: 1,000 (404 Hectares)
Wineries: 22

Located between the shores of the Northumberland Strait to the fertile Annapolis Valley. Nova Scotia produces table and dessert wines primarily from hybrid grapes, with a new trend of vinifera plantings. Major varieties are L’Acadie, Muscat, Seyval Blanc, Lucy Kuhlman, Leon Millot and Marechal Foch. This area is known for its specialization in sparkling wines and aromatic white Tidal Bay wines.

Source: https://winesofcanada.ca/