4 minute read
A Taste of Canada: Wine Regions Uncorked
from Bon Vivant 2022
by Ensemble
Get to know some of Canada’s top emerging wine producing areas, ideal for weekend escapes
By Michele Sponagle
When you see the landscape lined with rows of grapevines, you know you’ve arrived. Canada may be a northern country, but it has clearly demonstrated its prowess for winemaking with award-winning wines coveted worldwide. Most people are familiar with Niagara or the Okanagan Valley, but in recent years, some new names have been added to the list of regions doing amazing things with the humble grape. Though not as well-known as the most established areas, they have plenty to offer and are perfect for satisfying wine-and-dine weekend getaways.
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY, NOVA SCOTIA
SUNSET OVER THE VINEYARDS AT DOMAINE DE GRAND PRÉ
© DOMAINE DE GRAND PRÉ
The critics said that this area, known for its apple and dairy farms, wasn’t capable of producing great wines. How wrong they were. In a short time, the Annapolis Valley has come on strong with unique wines you won’t find anywhere else, including L’Acadie Blanc, Lucie Kuhlmann and Tidal Bay, crafted to pair with the province’s fresh seafood. Naturally, they are best enjoyed with food. Book a table at a restaurant located at a winery. Local favourites include Le Caveau, fine dining available on-site at Domaine de Grand Pré (known for its sparkling wines) and Lightfoot & Wolfville, a winery highly regarded for organic, biodynamic wines along with hearty weekend brunches.
AT LE CAVEAU, CHEF JASON LYNCH FOCUSES ON REGIONAL INGREDIENTS
© DOMAINE DE GRAND PRÉ
OSH HORTON, THE HEAD WINEMAKER AT LIGHTFOOT & WOLFVILLE
© LIGHTFOOT & WOLFVILLE
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, ONTARIO
TASTING WINES AT CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARDS
© JENNY THOMPSON.
Where do urbanites like to stay and play? Located about two hours from Toronto, Prince Edward County is like a playground for adults on the shores of Lake Ontario. It’s the province’s fastest-growing wine region, home to 30 wineries and a few cideries as well. To hit a few of them over a weekend, consider taking a curated tour or renting a bike to pedal your way along country roads to tasting rooms. Limestone-rich soil gives the wine a forward minerality, front and centre especially in the region’s pinot noirs and chardonnays. Sip as you please and catch live music at a winery like Waupoos Estates, the oldest in the county.
© JOHNNY C Y LAM
SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY, B.C.
Just west of Osoyoos in the southern part of the province, the Similkameen Valley ranks high among the most beautiful wine regions in the country because of its rugged mountainous backdrop. A weekend trip should include a helicopter tour for a bird’s eye view of the vineyards spread over the area. The reds are robust and flavourful and the whites have a crisp, clean finish with bright fruit notes, thanks to a long growing season and arid conditions. Taste them straight from the barrel during a behind-the-scenes tour, then settle in for a meal at a winery like Crowsnest Vineyards, a favourite for wood-fire pizzas and farm-to-table cuisine.
CROWSNEST VINEYARDS IN CAWSTON
© SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY/DARREN ROBINSON
EASTERN TOWNSHIPS, QUEBEC
About 60 per cent of the province’s wine production happens along a marked route, stretching 140 kilometres through the Eastern Townships. Brome-Missisquoi’s wine route features 22 vintners and takes you through some of the most scenic areas of Quebec. Imagine quaint villages, rural farmland and lush, green valleys. The award-winning Val Caudalies satisfies guests who love wine, ice wine, cider and even vermouth. Meanwhile, Clos Saragnat in Frelighsburg crafts fine ice cider and a truly unique offering – straw wine, made from grapes that are dried off the vine. It’s sweet, complex and well-balanced.
WHITE, RED AND ROSE WINES FROM VAL CAUDALIES
© VAL CAUDALIES
