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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Determining sub-appellations in Ontario’s wine regions

Determining sub-appellations in Ontario’s wine regions

Abstract

[English version below]

Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Ontario, (Alliance de qualité Vintners) est responsable de l’administration et de l’imposition des normes en liaison avec la qualité du vin, l’appellation d’origine, les variétés de raisin et les méthodes de production. Des vins produits selon les règlements de VQA sont actuellement étiquetés de trois distinctes mais larges régions d’appellation : Niagara Peninsula (péninsule de Niagara), Lake Erie North Shore (Rivage nord du lac Érié) et Pelee Island (Ïle Pelée). Le système actuel de production permet à une seule variété de raisin d’être développée dans plusieurs hautement différents sols, topographies et mésoclimats, avec pour résultat des vins de qualité très variée.
L’objectif du présent projet est d’évaluer les propriétés spécifiques du sol, de la géologie et du climat qui conviennent à certaines variétés, styles et préférences des consommateurs de vin. En outre, le projet vise à identifier les grandes zones ou les sub-appellations qui recèlent une combinaison d’éléments climatiques, du terroir, géologiques et topographiques qui permettraient aux variétés de vignes indiquées d’atteindre un potentiel de maturation optimum, de produire un vin de qualité consistante et d’éviter des dommages excessifs causés par le gel. Dans la conduite de cette recherche, le projet a exploité plusieurs bases de données relatives au sol, à la topographie, au lieu, à la géologie et au climat des régions viticoles de l’Ontario et a utilisé des outils du GIS (système d’information géographique) afin de déterminer la distribution spatiale et l’homogénéité de plusieurs sub-appellations proposées. Un indice composé basé sur plusieurs variables environnementales clés a, donc, été élaboré; les résultats ont été arrêtés pour la région et la frontière de chaque sub-appellation soigneusement définie.

Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Ontario is responsible for administering and enforcing standards in connection with wine quality, Appellation of Origin, grape varieties and production methods. Wines produced in accordance with VQA regulations are currently labelled under three distinct but broad viticultural areas (Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island. The present system of production permits a single grape variety to be grown in several highly dissimilar soils, topographies and mesoclimates, resulting in wines that are highly variable in their character.
The objective of this project is to evaluate specific properties of the soil, geology and climate that are suitable for certain varieties, wine styles and consumer preferences. Furthermore, it aims to identify broad zones or sub-appellations that possess a combination of climatic, soil, geological and topographic elements that would enable the designated grape varieties to achieve optimum ripening potential, produce wine of consistent quality and avoid excessive freeze injury. Accordingly, this project uses several databases relating to the soil, topography, location, geology and climate of Ontario’s wine regions along with GIS (Geographic Information System) tools to determine the spatial distribution and homogeneity related to several proposed sub-appellations. A composite index based on several key environmental variables was then constructed; the results were mapped for the region and the boundary of each sub-appellation was carefully defined.

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DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2004

Type: Article

Authors

Anthony. B. Shaw

Department of Geography, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada

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Keywords

Ontario, sub-appellations, wine regions
Ontario, sub-appellations, Alliance de qualité Vintners

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2004

Citation

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