Ontario wine
[1] Attempts to produce ice wine in Ontario were first made at Inniskillin in 1983, although a flock of birds destroyed the crop of grapes the day prior to its harvest.
The soil in the three region is all made of loose gravely soil, laying atop Trenton Limestone, and having been deposited there during the retreat of earlier proglacial lakes,[5][6] or through earlier glacial events that eroded the surrounding area's bedrock.
At times, wine regions in Ontario suffer from harsh winters which can damage tender vines.
Spread across 5,500 hectares (13,600 acres) of land, the growing region is the largest viticultural area in Canada.
[7] The Niagara Escarpment is a notable geographic feature of the region, rising 177 metres (581 ft) above sea level, and is used to provide slopes, and elevations, for the cultivation of different wines.
[7] As opposed to other regions, the soil of the Niagara Peninsula varies significantly depending on the area.
[7] Located along the northeastern shoreline of Lake Ontario, Prince Edward County was created as a new growing region in 2007.
[6] Prince Edward County is Ontario's northernmost VQA recognized wine growing region, and is surrounded by the Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario, two elements that provide a moderated and cool growing season for that region.
[6] The area's soil allows for heat conduction and retention, providing for deeper vine growth in the summer months.
Hybrid grapes are primarily grown in Eastern Ontario wineries, better suited for the colder climate of the region.
Vitis vinifera is the most common grapevine grown in Ontario-based vineyards, with a focus on cultivating Chardonnay, Riesling, pinot noir, and Cabernet Franc.
Ontario-grown fruits used to make these wines include (but are not limited to) apple, apricot, black currant, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, elderberry, gooseberry, huckleberry, haskap, nectarine, peach, pear, plum, red currant, raspberry, saskatoon berry, and strawberry.
Ontario has an advantageous location to produce sake due to the abundant availability of high quality spring water and the large and growing size of its local market for Japanese cuisine.
The VQA regulates production standards including grape varietals, wine-making techniques employed, and other requirements and ensures label integrity for consumers.
[13] This has raised some issues with certain wineries that do not meet the VQA standard or are not eligible because they use Ontario grown winter-hardy hybrid grapes that are not recognized by VQA despite lobbying attempts to update their list of acceptable grape varieties.
The Ontario government provides support to wineries producing VQA wines through mark-up relief for VQA wines sold to restaurants and other establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages in Ontario.
