Canada: Climate

Geographically, the major concentration of Canadian vineyards is on the same latitude as the languedoc and chianti, but lower winter temperatures, the freeze–thaw–freeze cycle of early spring, and unpredictable weather at harvest rank Canada as a cool climate wine region, with all the vintage variation and winemaking challenges that entails.

While some of Canada’s vineyards may enjoy hotter summers than either Bordeaux or Burgundy, the growing season tends to be shorter. According to one estimate, average sunshine hours during the growing season are 1,500 in the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario; 1,423 in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley; and 1,150 in Dunham, Quebec—compared with 1,315 in Burgundy. Grapes may require chaptalization in some years. Drought can be a problem and some producers have installed irrigation systems. Many wineries have invested in wind machines to counter spring frosts.