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British Columbia.



British Columbia may be divided into four main wine producing regions; Vancouver Island, The Fraser Valley, The Similkameen and The Okanagan. 1998 is predicted to be a particularly good year for the region, as the summer was particularly long and warm, including a mild and dry spring and autumn.

Vancouver Island.

Vancouver island provides an ideal microclimate in its Cowichin Valley. The main vineyards include Cherry Point, Venturi-Sculze, Blue Grouse and Vigneti Zanatta.


Fraser Valley.

Situated in the south west, not far from Vancouver. The most prominent producer is Andres Wines, bottling under the Peller Estates and Bighorn labels.

The Similkameen.

British Columbia's Southern Interior, is home to one of the most beautiful valleys in the World. Nestled between the Coastal and Columbian Mountain Ranges lies Lake Okanagan. To the immediate South are three smaller lakes; Skaha, Vaseux, and 20 Tuc El Nuit. Through this area runs the Similkameen River, therefore the name for this wine region. The main vineyards are Blue Mountain, Burrowing Owl, Crowsnest, Gehringer Brothers Estate, Golden Mile, Okanagan, Tinhorn, Vincor International and Hester Creek.

Okanagan Valley.

Formerly known more for fruit orchards, the Okanagan Valley is now gaining a good reputation for vineyards. These include Bella Vista Vineyard, Calona Wines, CedarCreek Estates, Grey Monk Estate, Hainle Vineyards Estate, Hillside Estate, Quails' Gate Vineyard.

Ontario.



Ontario, a province of over 1 million sq. km extends from the Hudson Bay in the north to the St. Lawrence River in the south. Most grapes are grown around lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron. The moderate climate and good soils allow high quality wines to be produced. The region may be divided into three distinct regions - Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie and Pelee Island.

Niagara Peninsula.

Between The Cities of Hamilton and Niagara Falls , and along the South shores of Lake Ontario runs the Niagara Peninsula. A fertile micro-climate where the majority of Ontario vineyards can be found. To the East lies the majestic town of Niagara-on-the- Lake. To the West the quaint town of Grimsby, and in the heart of the region lies Jorden Village. Principle vineyards include Chateau des Charmes, De Sousa Wine Cellars, Hillebrand Estates, Jackson-Triggs Vinters, Magnotta, Pellar Estates Winery.

Lake Erie.

Just south of the tip of Lake Huron lies Lake St. Clair and the city of Detroit. South of Lake St. Clair between it and Lake Erie lies a strip of land belonging to Ontario. Here is where we find vineyards of the Lake Erie North Shore. The main vineyards are Cilento Wines, Colio Estate Wines, D'Angelo Estate Winery, Magnotta Vineyards, and SouthBrook Winery.

Pelee Island.

Their vineyards are on an island located in Lake Erie, which would make it Canada's most southern winery, with over 500 acres of vines.

Quebec.



The first licenses to operate vineyards were issued in Québec in the mid-1980s. Today, the five original winegrowers, including l'Orpailleur, are joined by a dozen others. In one recent year, Québec vintners sold 250,000 bottles of their hardy wines. With a production last year of 70,000 bottles, l'Orpailleur is far and away the market leader. At a 1992 international competition held in Montreal, the vineyard was awarded a bronze medal for dry white wine, a first for any Québec wine. "L'orpailleur" means "the gold-panner" and in Québec, where Arctic-like winters can bring bone-chilling temperatures as low as -30C along with several feet of snow, any effort to grow wine grapes commercially seems as unlikely to produce results as sifting dirt for riches. Despite the risks, "les vignerons québecois" have learned how to fend off the cold and produce attractive table wines.

Nova Scotia.



Nova Scotia, a Peninsula on Canada's East Coast bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Funday. The southern tip of Nova Scotia dips below the 49th. parallel. It's on the west side in the Annapolis Valley that grapes are grown. The colder Canadian climate tends to lead growers towards producing Icewine.

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