Tony Aspler's Vintage Canada: A Tasteful Companion to Canadian Wines

Dean Tudor is a journalism professor at the Ryerson Polytechnical
Institute and founding editor of the CBRA.

In 1982 there were 34 wineries in Canada; now there are more than 66 in
four provinces, with exports to Europe, the Far East, and the United
States. Indeed, this book is fast becoming dated, as some wineries have
dissolved as businesses; others have been purchased or have changed
their names; and (by the time you read this review) most wines are no
longer available in the vintages that were tasted.

Aspler begins with historical material, and then gives a rundown of all
the wineries by province, with directory-type data (addresses, phone
numbers, stores maintained). He also provides a thumbnail history of
each winery; information on tours or public tastings; a representative
label for illustrative purposes; production statistics; an indication of
the range of wines produced; and separate chapters on Icewine and on the
Vintners Quality Alliance rules for Ontario. There are also extensive
tasting notes, which are inconveniently separated from the wineries
data. The wines are appropriately rated in terms of a price/quality
ratio.

Demand usually increases prices, and there are newer vintages each
year, so check around before using this book as a buying guide. It does
serve a good purpose, though, as a reference to winery performance
records. An index would have enhanced its value.