Does Canada Make Wine? | Wicked Tours

Summerhill Estate Winery

If you’re asking if Canada makes wine, Wicked Tours has the perfect blog. Find out all about Canadian wine with help from the experts!


Summerhill vineyards overlooking Lake Okanagan during summer.

Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com – Jose Antonio Lopez

Does Canada Make Wine?

Yes. Canada does make wine! That’s the end of today’s blog… Okay, we can do better than that! After all, there is so much to say about Canadian wine.

While Canada’s winemakers don’t enjoy the renown of France, Italy, Argentina, or even California, we are starting to get recognized for the quality of our wine. But this rise to worldwide oenopholic dominance is still in its infancy. After all, you probably clicked through to this blog because you weren’t sure whether or not Canada makes wine. So, it’s safe to say we must do more work to promote ourselves worldwide. Canadians have been drinking our wine for many years, and we’ve been having a great time! Suppose you’d like to come to enjoy it with us in person; consider Wicked Tours’ Kelowna wine tours. These are vineyard tours throughout the Okanagan Valley wine-producing region (pictured above) in British Columbia (but more on later).

With today’s blog, we would like to go into more depth about Canadian wine, answering general questions and looking more closely at terroir. We hope to tell you some things you don’t already know, and we also hope to dispel some myths about Canada’s wine. If you have any questions for us or any of the experts at Wicked Wine Tours, please feel free to get in touch!


Frozen grapes being harvested for icewine
                        Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com – Tantalus Vineyards

Can You Grow Grapes in Canada?

You can probably guess from the first question: yes, of course, you can grow grapes in Canada. But as this is a common question about Canada, we wanted to set up the question and answer it. You can grow grapes in Canada, although not everywhere, as you need a reasonably warm environment to grow grapes, and Canada isn’t exactly known for its balmy weather! However, many people assume the entire country is cold, but we have great, warm summers, and some parts of Canada have the perfect conditions for growing grapes. But these ideal conditions go beyond temperature alone as the soil, minerals, and many other factors all affect whether you can grow grapes, which leads nicely to our next question…

What Does ‘Terroir’ Mean in the Context of Wine?

Terroir is a little hard to define as it is a collection of many different things. Terroir is a French word that means ‘soil land.’ Still, it also encompasses temperature, humidity, elevation, wind exposure, proximity to the ocean, and perhaps dozens of other more specific conditions that only apply to certain parts of the world. Put as simply as possible, terroir is the collection of environmental factors that facilitate the growing of grapes for wine production – although the term is also used for some other products and has recently been co-opted into whiskey production and a few other products.

In terms of Canada’s terroir, it has two awe-inspiring wine-producing regions with their distinctive terroir. There is the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, where Wicked Tours is based, and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Let’s look at both regions’ terroir a little more closely.


Niagara Region, Ontario

Niagara Region, Ontario

The Terroir of Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula

The terroir of Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula is defined by its proximity to Lake Ontario, Niagara River, and Welland River. This area experienced glacial and interglacial events that changed rock layers, changing the topography and soil with other nearby areas. The northerly latitude is also rare for a wine-producing region, with significant seasonal differences between daylight hours between summer and winter. The overall terroir for the Niagara Peninsula can also be broken down into smaller sub-sections, but we won’t go into that here. Suffice it to say that many fascinating factors make this part of Ontario Canada’s most prosperous wine-producing region.


Cityscape of Kelowna, British Columbia, with orchard in foreground

Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com

The Terroir of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley

The terroir of the Okanagan Valley is quite different from the Niagara Peninsula, which means that the wines are very different. Wine production in the Okanagan Valley hasn’t been going on as long as in Niagara, so we are still learning the nuances of Okanagan grapes.

The Okanagan Valley has several bedrocks with floors and lower slopes settled with rich, extremely fertile silt, sand, and gravel from over 10,000‐year-old glacial deposits. Due to its position in the valley, the Okanagan has significantly less rain than nearby Vancouver and its surrounding area. While still wet enough to grow grapes, it’s never pouring. The summertime temperatures are also relatively high for Canada, making for even larger, happier, healthier grapes. 

This also means that the Okanagan is especially lovely to visit, which is why tours like our Lake Country Half-day Wine Tour and Kelowna Westside Wine Trail Tour are so popular with guests. This sunny, dry paradise is close to Canada’s west coast, with the perfect growing conditions for grapes. It’s also why there is a broader range of grape/wine varieties to choose from here than in Ontario.

We could say so much more about Canadian wine, but it’s probably best not to give you a wine blog to read that is almost as long as War and Peace. If you’d like to learn more, please read some of our previous blogs, including our Guide to Canadian Wines by Region and our 5 Canadian Wines to Try Before You Die. We hope you know a little more about Canadian wines and that you’ll consider visiting our wine regions. Or, at the very least, we hope you’ll look out for Canadian wine in your local stores!

Wicked Wine Tours Kelowna
Duration
3 hours
Group Size
At least 2

West Kelowna Wine Tour

Explore the enchanting vineyards and breathtaking views on a West Kelowna wine tour. With its rolling hills, lush orchards and majestic lake views, the Westside Wine Trail offers a unique mix of sophistication and rural charm that impress even the most discerning travellers. Sample locally-crafted wines, chat with knowledgeable winemakers, and capture stunning landscapes throughout this fascinating tour.

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
109 CAD
Duration
5 hours 30 minutes
Group Size
At least 2

Westside Wine Trail Wine Tour

Take a memorable journey through the beautiful Okanagan Valley on one of the wine tours from Kelowna. Enjoy an eclectic mix of farm-style hospitality and upscale elegance as you explore vineyards along the Westside Wine Trail. Marvel at the stunning lake views and rolling vineyards before indulging in some of the finest cuisines the area offers.

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
139 CAD
The View Winery
Duration
3 hours
Group Size
At least 2

Kelowna Wine Tour

Kelowna's wine scene is bursting with hidden gems. Explore them all on a guided tour of the city's Southeast area. Discover unique family-run, limited-production wineries with chic bohemian vibes and unforgettable Instagram-worthy posts. Enjoy samples of the area's best-kept secrets, and don't miss out on this off-the-beaten-path adventure!

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
109 CAD
District Wine Village BC
Duration
5 hours
Group Size
Up to 14

District Wine Village

At the District Wine Village, you can take a self-guided tour of the wineries, breweries, and distilleries. It's the only place of its kind in Canada and an absolute must-see for wine lovers in any season! For a complete tasting experience, we'll stop by Tickleberry's on our way in and pick up some handmade fudge and homemade ice cream!

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
99 CAD
Arrowleaf Cellars
Duration
3 hours
Group Size
At least 2

Lake Country Wine Tour

Tour Okanagan Lake Country and explore some of the region's best wines. Taste world-class Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir and experience their crisp flavor, delicate earthy aroma, and superb quality. Immerse yourself in a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere as you savor some of this area's finest wines.

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
109 CAD
Duration
5 hours
Group Size
At least 2

Scenic Sip Wine Tour

Soak up the stunning views of Okanagan Lake Country on a wine tour, and sample a range of expertly crafted wines. Enjoy Rieslings, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noirs that are bound with earthy undertones aromas - complemented perfectly by a selection of artisan foods. Relax in an unpretentious atmosphere as you experience world-class wines from this rustic region.

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
139 CAD