Vintage Report VINTAGE REPORT 2009 Conditions The 2009 vintage in Ontario’s summer saw normal and warmth returned. By the wine appellations began with temperatures and third week in August, it a snowy winter and wet precipitation overall but the looked like the grapes would spring in most of the wine- weather in July and August need a week or two of extra growing areas. Except for was starkly different. July ripening time to fully some winter damage was cold and rainy with high mature. Warmer resulting from a cold snap in precipitation in Prince temperatures and sustained Lake Erie North Shore and Edward County and Niagara sunshine from late August Pelee Island, the vines came Peninsula. Average through September made all into the growing season in temperatures were 2 to 3⁰ C the difference. Dry, warm good health. April was rainy lower than normal across and sunny conditions and May drier but with Southern Ontario. August prevailed for almost a month, slightly cooler than normal started out with rain and pushed ripening along, and temperatures bringing a slow normal temperatures but by harvest began just a few days steady start to flowering. The the end of the month the sun later than normal. Harvest The warm dry conditions in isolated frost and hospitable and the last of the September were ideal for precipitation interrupting harvest for table wines was harvest. White varieties and harvest. Wetter conditions completed by mid to late some earlier ripening red marked October in Lake Erie November. varieties were harvested North Shore and Pelee Island. throughout the month and Warmer temperatures It is too early to predict the winemakers were pleased followed, and harvest picked quality of Late Harvest and with the quality of the grapes up quickly, but large week to Icewine grapes, but the cool coming in. Concerns about week variations in October may help keep the effects of the cool summer temperature occurred grapes left on the vine in good months seemed to dissipate throughout the month. Many condition. Preliminary quickly with the long stretch of the later ripening varieties reports show that a of sun in September. remained on the vine at the significantly reduced tonnage end of October. of Icewine grapes – 1750 October brought widely tonnes compared to 6500 diverse circumstances within Harvest continued into tonnes in 2008 – has been a normal average. November for later ripening registered for the 2009 Temperatures cooled off reds. By mid-month, the vintage. quickly in early October, with weather became more Vintner’s Quality Alliance Ontario Page 1 VINTAGE REPORT 2009 Wine Expectations 2009 should be a good associated with these This vintage is also expected vintage for all of the white varieties. to produce excellent quality varieties at which Ontario Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir, excels. Conditions were right both varieties expressing for Ontario’s signature themselves well in a cooler Riesling with a clean balance vintage. 2009 was a bit more of fruit and racy acidity. The challenging for the longer vintage provided excellent ripening reds – Merlot, potential for Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris Sauvignon. These varieties and Gewurztraminer - all will have benefited from crop should be capable of thinning and extra care in the exhibiting the classic cool vineyard to ensure the grapes climate characteristics were fully mature at harvest. Vintner’s Quality Alliance Ontario Page 2 .