WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World > D3 - Canada > Flashcards

D3 - Canada Flashcards

Examines the regions, grapes, methods of production, and styles of Canada. (54 cards)

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1
Q

Why is most of Canada unsuitable for viticulture?

A
  • High latitude
  • Extreme cold
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2
Q

In which two Canadian provinces is most of the country’s wine made?

A
  1. Ontario
  2. British Columbia
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3
Q

When was V. vinifera first planted in Canada?

A

1950s

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4
Q

What are the climates of Ontario and British Columbia?

A

Both have an extreme continental climate.

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5
Q

Much like the Finger Lakes, Canadian vineyards are planted near _____.

Why?

A
  • Lakes;
  • The winter lake effect moderates temperatures, reducing the risk of deep winter freeze.
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6
Q

The lakes in Canada (as in most other regions) increase humidity. What risk increases with humidity?

A

Fungal disease pressure

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7
Q

What causes problematic drought in the inland areas of British Columbia?

A

British Columbia’s inland areas are in a rain shadow of two mountain ranges.

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8
Q

Canada’s viticultural areas are between 41° and 51° N. What does this mean for the growing season?

A

Growing season is short BUT summers have longer daylight hours (sun rises at or before 5am and sets after 9pm).

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9
Q

Because grape growing areas around lakes are more humid which increases fungal disease pressure, what does that mean for canopy management?

A

Canopies must stay open for improved air flow to decrease the risk of fungal disease.

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10
Q

What three ways do Canadian grape growers use to protect their vines from harsh winter temperatures?

A
  1. Bury the vines
  2. Use geotextiles (fabrics draped over the vines)
  3. Soil up around the grafts
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11
Q

Canadian Icewine regulation states that the grapes must be harvested at this temperature.

A

–8°C (18°F) or below

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12
Q

Fill in the blanks:

  • Icewine fermentation usually stops naturally around ___% abv.
  • ___g/L RS usually remains in the wine.
A
  • 9-11% abv
  • 200-250 g/L
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13
Q

Most Icewine in Canada is made with this grape variety.

A

Vidal

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14
Q

In Canada:

  • If a VQA wine has a single grape variety on the label, the wine must contain at least ___% of that stated grape.
  • If a VQA wine has two or more grapes listed on the label, those stated grapes must make up at least ___% of the wine.
A
  • Single grape: 85%
  • Two or more: 95%
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15
Q

Which wine-producing Canadian province is larger and has more area under vine: Ontario or British Columbia?

A

Ontario

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16
Q

Most of Ontario’s vineyards are planted on or near the shores of which two Great Lakes?

A
  1. Lake Erie
  2. Lake Ontario
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17
Q

How do Lake Erie and Lake Ontario affect the grape-growing climate?

A

They moderate Ontario’s extreme continental climate – the lakes keep their immediate areas warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

The farther away vineyards are planted from the lake, the less of a moderating effect there is.

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18
Q

What are the soils like in the immediate surroundings of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario?

A

Lots of limestone in the soil from ancient seabeds (some clay and sand the farther away from the lakes you go).

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19
Q
  • Which grape variety is the most planted in Ontario?
  • What is it typically made into?
A
  • Vidal
  • Icewine
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20
Q

The 3 most planted vitis vinifera grape varieties in Ontario are:

A
  1. Riesling
  2. Chardonnay
  3. Cabernet Franc
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21
Q

Besides Cabernet Franc, what other red grape varieties are grown in Ontario?

A
  • Merlot
  • Pinot Noir
  • Gamay Noir
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22
Q

In what year did Ontario adopt the VQA legislation?

23
Q

What are the three major appellations (VQAs) in Ontario?

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A
  1. Prince Edward County
  2. Niagara Peninsula
  3. Lake Erie North Shore
24
Q

In Ontario, if one of the three major Niagara appellations appears on a label, a minimum of ___% of the grapes must come from the stated appellation.

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A

85% minimum

The other 15% can be sourced from elsewhere within Ontario.

25
Which appellation within Ontario is the largest producer of wine?
Niagara Peninsula
26
What is the Niagara Escarpment?
A **north-facing limestone bluff** whose altitude is ~100m above Lake Ontario. **Several river valleys cut down from the escarpment to the lake**, hence giving the area a **variety of soils and microclimates** (so different styles of wine).
27
How do Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment work in tandem to affect the immediate grape-growing area?
They work together to **create warm airflow in the winter and cool airflow in the summer**.
28
What are the two regional appellations within Niagara Peninsula?
1. Niagara Escarpment 2. Niagara-on-the-Lake
29
# Fill in the blank: If a wine has either Niagara Escarpment or Niagara-on-the-Lake on the label, \_\_\_% of the grapes must come from the stated area.
85%
30
The Niagara Peninsula has two *regional* appellations: Niagara Escarpment and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara Peninsula also has a number of smaller sub appellations (not covered in D3) both within and outside the borders of the two regional appellations. Wines labelled with one of the smaller sub-appellations must contain **what percent** from that sub-appellation?
Wines labelled with a sub-appellation must contain grapes entirely from that sub-appellation (or 100%).
31
Why is the Niagara Escarpment the coolest grape-growing area of Niagara Peninsula?
It has **elevation** combined with the **cooling lake breezes**.
32
Why does Niagara-on-the-Lake make riper and fruitier wines than Niagara Escarpment?
Niagara-on-the-Lake is **largely flat, slightly warmer, and its proximity to Lake Ontario means nights stay warmer** and autumns stay warmer longer.
33
On which Great Lake is Lake Erie North Shore situated?
Lake Erie
34
Lake Erie is the shallowest of all the Great Lakes. What does this mean for its wintertime influence over its grape-growing vicinity?
**Winter freeze is a greater problem** in Lake Erie North Shore VQA because **the lake loses its accumulated summer warmth faster**.
35
* Lake Erie North Shore is the \_\_\_est of all Ontario's grape-growing areas. * How do its wines show compared to those from Niagara Peninsula?
* **Warmest** * Wines **show more ripe fruit but have a bit less structure** than those from Niagara Peninsula.
36
Prince Edward County VQA is on which Great Lake?
Lake Ontario
37
Prince Edward County is the most northerly appellation in Ontario and routinely has winter freezes. What makes it possible to ripen grapes at such a northerly latitude?
* Vineyards are planted on a broad **limestone plateau with a stony topsoil that stores heat during the day and radiates it at night**, helping to ripen grapes in this very cool region. * Planting **early-ripening varieties** * **Long daylight hours** in peak growing season * **Extended autumn warmth** from Lake Ontario
38
The vineyard area of British Columbia can be split into two very distinct areas. What is each area's respective climate?
1. Cool, maritime climate for areas close to the Pacific Ocean 2. Continental climate inland ## Footnote see p.459
39
Which has a more northerly latitude: British Columbia or Ontario?
British Columbia
40
Name three things about British Columbia's growing season.
1. **Short** 2. But it has **long sunlight hours** during the growing season (fruit ripens well) 3. Has a **large diurnal range** (cool nights which help grapes retain acidity)
41
# Fill in the blanks: * The most planted **red** grape in British Columbia is \_\_\_\_\_. * The most planted **white** grape in British Columbia is \_\_\_\_\_.
* Red = Merlot * White = Pinot Gris
42
What are the five sub-appellations of British Columbia from east to west?
1. Okanagan Valley 2. Similkameen Valley 3. Fraser Valley 4. Gulf Islands 5. Vancouver Island
43
How do the climate and soils vary in Okanagan Valley?
* Northern part is cool with loamy glacial deposits. * Southern part is arid and hot with sandier soils (irrigation essential here).
44
What body of water helps moderate the cool, northerly area of northern Okanagan Valley?
Okanagan Lake
45
What are the climate risks in Okanagan Valley?
* Spring frosts * Low rainfall in southern area
46
Where are vineyards mostly planted in Okanagan Valley, and why?
* Mid-level slopes to reduce frost risk * 300–600m asl provides diurnal range
47
What are the grape varieties planted in the northern and southern areas of Okanagan Valley?
* North = Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer (cooler climate varieties) * South = Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah (warmer climate varieties)
48
Describe the topography of the Similkameen Valley.
* Rocky valley with a strip of farmable land along the Similkameen River * Mountains on either side channel constant winds into the valley
49
What is the growing season like in Similkameen Valley?
* Hot summer days * Large diurnal range (400-500m elevation)
50
Which four grape varieties are most planted in Similkameen Valley?
1. Merlot 2. Cabernet Sauvignon 3. Pinot Noir 4. Chardonnay
51
What are the three appellations in British Columbia that have a cool, maritime climate?
1. Fraser Valley 2. Gulf Islands 3. Vancouver Island
52
* What are summers like in Fraser Valley, Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Island? * Are there any risks in these areas?
* Wetter and cooler summers * Fungal disease risks
53
Because the growing conditions in Fraser Valley, Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Island are cooler and wetter in a maritime climate, what are the best grapes to grow here?
Early ripening grapes ## Footnote e.g. Pinot Noir.
54
What are the two largest liquor control boards in Canada? ## Footnote They're also two of the largest alcohol buyers in the world.
1. **LCBO** (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) 2. **SAQ** (Société des Alcools du Québec)
WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World
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