Nova Scotia's Newest Appellation Wine

On May 28, 2012, the Winery Association of Nova Scotia will launch the newest appellation white wine for the province — Tidal Bay. The official release will take part at the Atlantic Canada Wine Symposium in Halifax.

Tidal Bay is a crisp, off-dry, still white wine that shows signature Nova Scotian brisk minerality and has vibrant, fruity nose. It must be made of 100% Nova Scotia grown grapes, from the list of approved varieties and be vintage-dated.

“Tidal Bay highlights the characteristics given to our wines by the unique combination of climate and terroir in our province,” says Stewart Creaser, president of the Winery Association of Nova Scotia and co-owner of Avondale Sky Winery. “The project set strict standards including the grape varietals, how they must be grown and harvested and finally strict standards on the wine making process.”

For official Tidal Bay status, the wine must be approved by an independent tasting panel composed of writers, educations, experts and sommeliers. Successful Tidal Bay wines will be available at the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) as of early June.

Wineries with 2011 vintages of Tidal Bay include, Avondale Sky, Annapolis Highland Vineyards, Benjamin Bridge, Blomidon Estate Winery, Domaine de Grand Pré, Gaspereau Vineyards, Jost Vineyards, Luckett Vineyards, Petite Riviere Vineyards and Sainte-Famille Wines.

“European wine regions have long understood the importance of the development of wine appellations to highlight specific styles of wines,” says Peter Gamble, lead consultant on the Tidal Bay project. “And so just as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vinho Verde, Chablis and Chianti, to name but a few of hundreds, established formal appellations to protect and promote their distinct, high-quality regional wines, so too, has Nova Scotia.”

Photo provided by Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development and Tourism