The charm of Canadian wine

What is Canadian wine?

When you think of wine, most people probably think of Italy or France. Canadian wine is consumed domestically at 80%, so it is hardly distributed outside the country and is not familiar in Japan. Wineries in Ontario have been producing high-quality wines that have been highly acclaimed internationally in recent years, and are comparable to wine-producing regions in other countries. They won many awards at the 2024 Sakura Awards, and were recognized by Japanese women. Ontario, Canada, has an ideal environment for wine production and is currently shaping the next generation of wine and boasting a more sustainable and vibrant wine industry. We will introduce the charm of Canadian wine.

 

Well-balanced taste

Blessed with an ideal terroir for growing grapes, Canadian wines have a mineral-rich flavor, while red wines have mild tannins and a fruity taste. The appeal of Canadian wine is that you'll be impressed with just one sip.

 

Cool Climate Wine Regions

Ontario is actually at a lower latitude than Napa Valley in the United States, and is becoming a center of winemaking due to the effects of global warming. Canada has an image of being cold, but in the summer the temperature rises to nearly 40 degrees and the sunshine is long, which allows the grapes to ripen well and produce rich, sugary grapes. However, at night the temperature drops to around 17 degrees, so the region is generally considered cool. Wines from cool climates have a better aroma and stronger acidity than wines from hotter regions, resulting in a refreshing, well-balanced taste. The region is blessed with such a favorable grape-growing environment that winemakers from Germany and Italy have immigrated there, bringing their own unique wine-making techniques.

 

A unique terroir in the world

Ontario is located near the three Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron. The continental climate means that the weather is relatively stable and there are no differences in vintages. This makes it a comfortable climate for grapes. In addition, Ontario's soil is made up of limestone from the seabed, so the well-drained topography provides nutrients and minerals to the grapes. Ontario, Canada, is the only place where the sun, topography, and soil all come together.

The white wines have a rich mineral flavor, while the red wines have mild tannins and a fruity taste. The appeal of Canadian wine is that you will be impressed with the flavor after just one sip.

 

Special Grape Variety

Ontario's unique terroir is best expressed in the quality of its cool climate grapes, with over 50 international varieties, 10 hybrids made with North American varieties that are hardy in the winter, and most importantly, ice wines, some of the world's best dessert wines, and late harvest wines, all of which take advantage of the province's harsh winters.

Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Merlot are the most widely grown red wines. The "Baco Noir," a hybrid of European and North American varieties, is one of the most popular varieties.
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are widely grown as white wines, but Riesling is the most popular at our store.

 

Thorough quality control

Ontario has a wine quality control certification called VQA. VQA is one of the strictest wine laws in the world. If a wine bottle has VQA Ontario and the appellation of origin on it, it is guaranteed that the wine has passed a rigorous quality assurance and label integrity program and is made entirely from grapes grown in Ontario.

 

Environmentally friendly winemaking

With global environmental concerns in mind, we established the industry-led sustainability program for Ontario's VQA wine and grape industry, "Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario," in 2007. The program is built around three core sustainability pillars: environment, economy, and community.

 

The perfect pairing with Japanese cuisine

And best of all, Canadian wine pairs perfectly with Japanese food. Canadian grapes get plenty of sunshine, which allows them to ripen well and have a high sugar content, resulting in fragrant, fruity wines that go well with elegant Japanese food made with soy sauce, mirin, sugar, sake, and dashi.