Five amazing bottles from Ontario’s new crop of big, bold red wines

Rising temperatures are remaking Ontario wine, producing grand reds never seen in our cool climate

Big reds are booming. The province’s cool climate and short growing season are known for producing lightweight pinot noir and gamay, not bold shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. The hot 2010 vintage, however, overturned conventional wisdom. Bordeaux grape varieties, including cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, flourished with ripe flavours and richer textures. Niagara even produced a few excellent shirazes. But global warming can’t take all the credit. After several years of experimentation, winemakers are increasingly savvy and turning out more refined versions every year. Here, five big, bold homegrown reds.

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