Cheers to Our Grape Nation - 151 Canadian Wine Facts!
- Jun 29, 2018
To celebrate the milestone of Canada's 151st birthday, we're sharing 151 facts about Canadian wine!
1) There are over 274 licensed grape wineries in Canada.
2) Canada’s wine regions are comprised of 30,000 acres.
3) In Nanaimo, you can enjoy a glass of wine whilst cheering on your neighbours in the annual bathtub races.
4) There are 1,700 grape growers in Canada.
5) The Canadian wine industry contributes $6.8 billion to the Canadian economy.
6) The wine industry contributes $1.2 billion in tourism.
7) The wine industry contributes 31,000 jobs in total.
8) Macaroni and cheese is the most purchased grocery item in Canada and pairs great with a variety of wines including Riesling, Grenache, or Lambrusco.
9) Canadians drink more than 1 billion glasses of Canadian wine every year.
10) Canadians drink 220 million bottles of wine every year.
11) Golf champ, Mike Weir, owns a winery in Ontario.
12) Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland generally make more fruit-based wines.
13) Because of our cold climate, Canada is the largest Icewine producer in the world.
14) The cold provinces of Canada are not just a bonus for producing fantastic ice wine, it is also essential as over ½ the world’s population of polar bears live in Canada.
15) Canadian wine consumption is growing faster than beer and spirits.
16) There are over 700 wineries in Canada.
17) Dan Aykroyd owns a vineyard in Niagra, Ontario.
18) B.C.’s wine industry employs about 12,000 people, and has an economic impact of $2.8 billion annually on our province’s economy.
19) The most prominent varieties of grapes grown for red wines in BC are Merlot, Pinot noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
20) The most prominent varieties of grapes grown for white wines are Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer.
21) Growing regions for grape growing in BC include The Kootenay, Thompson River, and Lillooet.
22) Winemaking began in approximately 1920 in BC in the District of Saanich at Growers Wine Company.
23) There is increasing scientific evidence that moderate regular wine drinking can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and gum disease.
24) Okanagan is BC’s premier growing region.
25) The first vineyard in BC was planted in 1860’s near Kelowna but it wasn’t until the 1930’s that the first winery was established in the Valley.
26) Settlers came to the Okanagan due to the gold rush and began to plant orchards which flourished for many years.
27) Canada’s oldest continuous winery is Barnes Wines (1873-1980).
28) The most recognized areas for producing wines are Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario and the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.
29) One ton of grapes make about 60 cases of wine or 720 bottles.
30) One bottle of wine contains 2.8 pounds of grapes.
31) Nova Scotia has ideal acidic soil for white and sparkling wines.
32) Almost 900,000 liters of wine is made annually in BC and Ontario.
33) Ryan Reynolds normally enjoys a glass of wine at the end of a days work. If we were buying him a bottle, it would have to be the Black Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon.
34) The most popular grape varietal in Quebec is Baco Noir and Adalmiina.
35) Red wine accounts for 60% of wine consumed in Canada. That's a lot of stained teeth!
36) There are five designated wine-growing areas in British Columbia: Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Islands and the Gulf Islands.
37) 75 % of Canada's wine is grown and produced in Ontario.
38) Ontario is the world’s largest producer of Icewine in the world.
39) To make ice wine grapes are left on the vine well into the cold months. The cold temperatures allotted to regions in BC and Ontario prevent the grapes from rotting.
40) Wines are grown in many areas on Quebec from south of Montreal to as far north as Quebec City.
41) Nova Scotia holds approximately 720 acres of vineyards.
42) There are multiple wineries on the Gulf Islands – including Salt Spring, Hornby, and Quadra Island.
43) When people think of Ontario wine, they usually associate it with Niagra Penisula, so it may come as a surprise that the province’s first vineyard was in Cooksville !
44) The Niagra Peninsula can be broken up into 10 sub-appellations, each with distinct environment characteristics that contribute to producing a variety of different wines.
45) Wayne Gretzky owns two wineries in Canada – Okanagan and Ontario.
46) Canadians consume about 30% of all wines produced in Canada.
47) The best wine to have while listening to Justin Bieber is Cupcake Prosecco.
48) Wines have been produced on Canadian soil for more than 150 years.
49) Because Canada is the second largest country in the world and because wine is shaped by the geography of a place in which it is produced, Canada has a huge advantage in the wine industry.
50) Canadian bacon is loved all over the world! Enjoy it with a Chenin Blanc!
51) Because of Canada’s geography and different environmental conditions, Canada can produce nearly every kind of wine.
52) The warm and dry climate of the Okanagan contributes to producing full-bodied reds such as Merlot and cabernets.
53) No grape is off-limits in Canada.
54) BC has the only certified desert in all of Canada - this also happens to be the most prominent BC wine region.
55) The perfect temperature to produce Icewine is -8 C. In Ontario, many ice wineries will harvest the grapes at -10 C to create a sweeter flavour.
56) Canada can produce the same grapes that are in Italy.
57) Drake songs go well with a vibrant red like the Settle Cascine Barolo.
58) Icewine from Canada is extremely popular in Southeast Asian countries as it is considered a luxury product.
59) In order for wines to be considered Ice Wines under Canadian law and international agreement, the grapes must be harvested and naturally frozen on the vine.
60) The first vineyards in Quebec did not open until the mid-1980’s.
61) Many of the wines that are produced in Quebec are only available at the vineyard.
62) Exports of Canadian wine have grown from $41.2 million in 2012 to $80.2 million in 2016.
63) Quebec is the leading wine drinking province.
64) Millennials are the second biggest generation of wine drinkers in Canada.
65) Millennials tend to gravitate more towards Canadian wines.
66) Baby boomers are the largest generation of wine drinkers in Canada.
67) The average Canadian drinks 20 bottles of wine per year.
68) Canadians drink more wine than Americans annually.
69) A third of the wine consumed in Canada is produced by domestic wineries.
70) Almost ½ the wine consumed in BC is Canadian.
71) The Thompson Okanagan area hosts over 120 wineries.
72) 97% of grape growing in Ontario is used for wine.
73) Grape production enhances the environmental beauty of the province and preserves Canada’s rich agricultural heritage.
74) The first planting of grape vines in Ontario dates back to 1811.
75) The first winery license in Ontario was granted in 1974 to Inniskillin.
76) Kelowna receives 2,000 hours of sun annually –ideal growing conditions for grapes.
77) Tragically Hip released a wine in 2014 in collaboration with Stoney Ridge – The Fully Completely Grand Reserve Red!
78) Canadians have vast differences in wine taste as over ½ the population were born in other countries.
79) Grapes in BC get watered regularly as there are on average 330 days of rain per year.
80) Canadians like to finish sentences in “eh”. It’s even a word in the Oxford dictionary. For example, “Could you pass the wine, eh?”
81) Basketball was created in Canada – the wine that pairs best with basketball is a merlot as it is just as timeless as the Canadian sport.
82) Canada produces about 2.8 billion litres of wine every year. That nearly is enough to fill Lake Manitoba twice.
83) Wines first purpose in Canada was as a water purifier.
84) Poutine is a national food staple of Canada and pairs best with a pinot noir.
85) Newfoundland did not become a province until 1949 – in 1993 the first winery, Rodrigues Winery and Distillery, was opened.
86) The Calgary Stampede serves over 200,0000 pancakes per year. The best wine to pair with pancakes is a Muscat.
87) Canada produces more wine than maple syrup annually.
88) Every bottle of wine made in Canada contributes $31 to the domestic economy versus approximately 65 cents for an imported foreign wine.
89) According to the All Canadian Wine Championships (ACWC) in 2016 BC held the spot for best red wine in Canada of the year.
90) 80% of Canadians drink alcohol.
91) The average woman in Canada has 10 drinks a week.
92) The average man in Canada has 15 drinks per week.
93) 58% of Canadians prefer to drink wine at home.
94) Canadians have many oddly dispiriting names for vineyards such as The Dirty Laundry Vineyard, Laughing Stock Vineyards, and Foreign Affair Winery.
95) Cool climates such as Canada’s produce grapes that are naturally higher in a chemical compound resveratrol. Resveratrol is the anti-oxidant in grape skins that protects the fruit against fungus attacks, and when consumed in wine, appears to reduce fat and cholesterol in human blood which contribute to heart disease.
96) There are more donut shops per capita than any other country in the world! Pair your donut with a brut champagne or dry Riesling.
97) Stanley Park in Vancouver is bigger than Central Park and perfect for picnics. For your picnic, try the Chaos and Harmony Sauvignon Blanc!
98) According to the federal government, Santa Claus is a Canadian citizen.
99) New Brunswick produces 1/3 of the worlds French fries. French fries pair best with champagne. Seriously!
100) Vineyards in Canada occupy more than 26,000 acres of land in Canada.
101) Canada is a major player in the international wine scene due to rising exports and growth of vineyards.
102) Some places in Canada aren’t as ideal for grape growing, such as Calgary where the temperatures can go from -19 degrees to 22 degrees in just an hour!
103) Grape growing is abundant in Canada as we have a great irrigation system that holds 7% of the world’s fresh water.
104) Whilst vineyard hopping in the Okanagan, you may run into the Ogopogo, AKA the famous mythical monster that supposedly lives in Lake Okanagan.
105) You may be surprised to find out that Hawaiian pizza was actually invented by an Ontarian man. The best wine pairing for Hawaiian pizza is a Riesling or Zinfandel.
106) BC does not only produce an abundant number of grapes, it is also one of the world’s top 3 producers of blueberries.
107) In Ontario, there are 900,000 litres of ice wine produced annually.
108) Canada is the worlds most educated country. Our favourite wine to buy for professors is the Palacio del Camino Real Tinto Joven.
109) Pamela Anderson has a wine called Contempt – the wine was created in collaboration with The Hatch Winery.
110) Canada has the largest coastline in the world and access to incredible seafood. Pair your ocean delights with chardonnay!
111) There is even a winery on Prince Edward Island – the Rossignol Estate Winery which is completely sheltered by greenhouses.
112) Fruit wines in Canada are made from 100% Ontarian produce.
113) We all know that wine and cheese go hand in hand. It’s fitting that Canada produces over 350,000 tons of cheese per year. Our favourite – Exotica Sauvignon Blanc and goat cheese.
114) Canada has won the most gold medals at the Winter Olympics and has many gold medal wines.
115) Each wine region in Canada has its own unique mesoclimate, soil ecology and topography.
116) There are now ten wineries in Nova Scotia.
117) Johann Schiller is known as the father of Canadian Wine as he established Canada’s first ever commercial winery.
118) Six provinces make grape-based wines: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
119) Niagara can produce many of the same wines as Bordeaux as they are at the same latitude.
120) Women are generally better wine tasters, as women on average have a better sense of smell than men, which is why there are so many Canadian women wine authorities.
121) We are lucky to live in a cooler climate, as wines that are produced in cool climates are very food-friendly.
122) One of the most Canadian desserts you can eat is a beaver tail paired with an Ice Wine. Try it with the See Ya Later Ranch Vidal Ice Wine!
123) Ontario Grape and Wine industry alone generates 4.4 billion to the economy.
124) British Columbia Grape and Wine Industry generates 2.8 billion to the economy.
125) The Canadian Vintners Association is considered the “voice” of the Canadian wine industry representing more than 90% of annual wine production.
126) One region in Quebec, Brome-Missisquoi, represents 60% of Quebec’s wine production.
127) Lake Erie is Canada’s southernmost spot for wineries (there are 10 wineries in this area).
128) Over 180 wineries from 16 countries come and participate in the Vancouver International Wine Festival every year.
129) Cheddar cheese is the most popular cheese in Canada and pairs great with a Cab Sauv!
130) 800 gallons of wine are made from one acre of grape vines.
131) There are over 10,000 grape varietals in the world, and Canada hosts up to 60 different grape varietals!
132) European wines are named after geographic regions. Canadian wines are named after different grape varietals.
133) There are 295 bottles of wine in one wine barrel.
134) British Columbia and Ontario account for 98% of Canada’s premier wine.
135) There are 15,000 acres of wine grape vineyards in Ontario.
136) The VQA is the Vintners Quality Assurance - is a regulatory and appellation system which guarantees the high quality and authenticity of origin for Canadian wines.
137) Nova Scotia’s Gaspereau Valley bears an uncanny affinity to the Champagne region in France.
138) Vin Villa was the first Canadian Winery.
139) The first vineyard in the Okanagan was the Oblate Mission in Kelowna.
140) Canada exports wine to countries and regions all over the world such as China, Taiwan, Korea, France and many more.
141) A classic BC wine pairing in grilled sockeye salmon with pinot noir.
142) Jason Priestley co-owns Black Hill Estate Winery in Oliver BC.
143) The world’s first 100% indigenous owned winery was opened in 2012 in Kelowna.
144) Canada has more geographic diversity than most other wine-producing countries.
145) A classic Canadian dessert is the Nanaimo Bar! Enjoy a piece (or two) with a glass (or two) of Ice Wine!
146) The most popular grape varietal in Nova Scotia is L’Acadie Blanc and Castel.
147) Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. For weekends at the cabin try the Pikorua Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
148) George Street in Newfoundland has more bars and pubs per square feet than on any street in North America. Lot's of places to grab that end-of-day glass of wine!
149) A unique fast food favourite that you can only find in east coast McDonalds is the McLobster - try it with a Sauvignon Blanc!
150) Studies have found that Canadians are the second-happiest people in the world! Probably because we have great wine!
151) The top international markets for B.C. wine in 2016 were China (54 percent), Taiwan (23 percent) and the US (11 percent).
As you can see from these facts, the Canadian wine industry is not only great, but it is a growing staple of Canadian culture! Happy Canada Day, and thanks for celebrating with us!
Sources:
Wines of Canada
Canadian Vintners Association
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
Natalie Maclean
CBC
British Columbia Wine
Orchard and Vine
Building History
Go-Wine
Villa del Monte
Taste of Terroir
L'acadie Vineyards
Doctor's Review
Wine BC
About Wine
Wine Country Ontario
Canadian Wine Encyclopedia
VQA Ontario
Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery
Macleans
CBC
Canadian Geographic
Wine Folly
Canadian Millennials
Ottawa Citizen
Huffington Post
City of Kelowna
Sunshine Coast BC
Lifebuzz
O Canada Entertainment
Hike, Bike and Travel
Rodrigues Winery
Calgary Stampede
Healthy Canadians
National Post
Macleans
Jewel 88
1 Constant
Buzzfeed
Tourism Kelowna
CTV News
Environment Canada
Agricultural Classroom
Tourism PEI
Globe and Mail
Mike Weir Winery
The Star
Women's Health
Eastern Township
Understanding Wine Names by Region
VQA Ontario
Benjamin Bridge
Lake View Wine Co
The Hip Wine
Black Hills Estate
Indigenous World Winery
The Hatch Wines