Wine Growing Regions: Québec
There are over 30 wineries in Québec, located at 45° N, which produce wines from locally grown non-Vitis Vinifera grapes. Three factors make it possible to grow grapes in this fringe growing region: well-chosen pockets of mesoclimates warmed by a tempering body of water (Lake Champlain or the St. Lawrence River) or mountains (the Laurentians and Appalachians) labour-intensive viticultural practices using winter-hardy French and American hybrids and the fascinating passion of the vignerons of Québec who are determined to have an indigenous wine industry.
The climate in the grape growing regions of Québec is uncharitable. The winter is normally long, cold, and the growing season is short with only a little more than half the average number of sunshine hours that Bordeaux enjoys. Artic-like winters bring chilling temperatures as low as -30°C with four to five feet of snow burying the vineyards. Frosts can come as late as June.
There are three areas that have comparatively milder pockets of weather: one is located along the U.S./Canadian border near Lake Champlain where most of the wineries are located. Another is along the St. Lawrence River. A third is south of Montreal in the foothills of the Laurentians Mountains.
Soils vary from sand and sandy loam to mixed clay and silt, shale, slate and gravel. To protect the vines in the winter, most growers practice mounding which involves pruning back the plants and covering the entire plant above the graft scar with soil or straw for winter and removing the mound again in spring. Some mound with snow, as well.
There are approximately 350 acres of wine grapes under vine. Total annual production amounts to 1.5 percent of Canada’s total volume with approximately 25,000 cases per year, not including the commercial wineries’ output that are using imported product. White wines provide 52 percent of volume and reds 22 percent, with digestifs, sparkling and dessert wines making up the balance.
* Since Québec doesn’t produce Vitis Vinifera grapes or VQA wines, the areas in which grapes are grown are referred to as “Growing Areas” as opposed to designated “Viticultural Areas,” which implies legal jurisdiction.