A varietal is a wine that is labeled as being made from one grape variety. New World wines are generally labeled by varietal, whereas Old World wines are labeled by region (i.e. Bordeaux wine refers to a wine made in the Bordeaux region of France. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are two varietals grown in Bordeaux).
Primary Red Varieties
Red | Made from dark-colored grape varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, among others. Red wines tend to be fuller in body, are often oak aged and have delicious berry or fruit flavours. Ontario’s cool climate styles are the perfect complement with food but be sure to match the weight of the wine with the richness of the food for the ultimate pairing.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the world-famous grape from Burgundy and more recently California and the Pacific Northwest. A light to medium-body wine pegged as one of the most difficult to grow and make. Delicate and smooth with rich complexity, Pinot Noir is a versatile dinner companion.
VQA Pinot Noir
The great red grape of Burgundy has a natural home in Ontario. Made in a classic cool climate style, VQA Pinot Noir renders wines with cherry fruit, earthy/forest floor character, and oak spice flavours. They are paler in colour, light to medium-bodied and become silky smooth with a bit of age.
Cabernet Franc
VQA CABERNET FRANC
The aristocratic parent of Cabernet Sauvignon is the soul of Ontario’s reds. This winter-hardy grape is one of the Bordeaux varieties, often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon both in its homeland and here in Ontario. Alone it shows red currant, raspberry, herbal and tobacco characters, with oak aging adding toasty, chocolaty complexity. It is made in easy-drinking unoaked styles, more structured cellar-worthy versions and, as Ontario has discovered, it can also make great VQA Icewine.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine known for its depth of flavor, aroma, and ability to age due to the wine’s noticeable tannins. It is full-bodied and intense, with cherry, currant, and sometimes herbal or tobacco flavors.
Gamay
Described by some as the “next big thing”, VQA Gamay Noir is gaining popularity with wine lovers. This light to medium-bodied red is also used in many rosé wines, but in either case Ontario VQA Gamay is fruity, floral and earthy. The bright acidity keeps them easy drinking and flavourful.
Primary White Varieties
White | Ontario’s cool climate and limestone-rich soils produce a wide variety of fresh, delicious white wines with crisp acidity that makes them incredibly food-friendly. Chardonnay and Riesling are Ontario’s two signature varieties along with other specialties such as Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a white wine originating from Burgundy. Flavors range from clean and crisp with a hint of varietal flavor to rich and complex, vanilla, butter and oak-aged wines. Chardonnay typically balances fruit, acidity and texture.
Gewurztraminer
Gewürztraminer is a white German wine that produced distinctive wines rich in spicy aromas and full flavors, ranging from dry to sweet.
Pinot Gris( pinot grigio)
The low acidity of this white grape helps produce rich, lightly perfumed wines that are often more colorful than other whites. VQA Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris) is a dry, light-bodied wine with high acidity and refreshing citrus, green apple and stone fruit flavours.
Riesling
Riesling is the classic white wine grape from Germany and known for its floral perfume. Depending on where they're made, they can be crisp and bone-dry, full-bodied and spicy or luscious and sweet.
Note: Wine definitions were found under the following websites: https://www.cawineclub.com/wine-varietals and here https://winecountryontario.ca/signature-varieties/ and also here https://mnhardy.umn.edu/grapes/varieties