Napa valley in the u.s., loire River Valley in France and Hunter Valley in Australia are places where succulent grapes are transformed into fine wines. Now there is another lush valley itching to take its place on that list, and it seems to be well on its way: the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia.

Wine country is usually synonymous with long, hot summers and mild winters. But neither is synonymous with Nova Scotia — and neither is necessary for creating wines that tempt the palate. In fact, Nova Scotia is believed to have been the first wine-producing region in North America. Grapes have been nurtured here since the 1600s — specifically because the climate is cooler. According to Hanspeter Stutz, treasurer of the Winery Association of Nova Scotia and owner of Grand Pré Wines, the province’s long autumn, which allows the grapes to ripen slowly, is responsible for the intensity of the wines’ flavour.

That flavour is winning Nova Scotia wines accolades around the world. Recently, Gaspereau Vineyards walked away with four gold medals at the Tasters Guild International wine competition. And Jost Vineyards, the oldest in the province, scored three gold medals at the 2006 All-Canadian Wine Championships.

As the wine matures, so does the industry. Earlier this year, the provincial government introduced amendments to the Agriculture and Marketing Act. The goal is to develop regulations to support and shape the industry and ultimately ensure managed growth and development of farm and winery businesses in the province. The amendments call for establishment of the Nova Scotia Wine, Ciders and Fruit Liqueurs Industry Board; require winery owners producing Nova Scotia wine to register; and provide for an audit of wineries.

The Winery Association of Nova Scotia is also raising the bar for its members. New standards are in place to ensure the award winning continues. The association has also introduced a bold, new branding symbol to spotlight wines made from 100% Nova Scotia-grown grapes. Fortunately, the industry is not taking itself too seriously. The logo is a lobster claw holding a glass of wine.

These legislative and industry requirements reflect the impact the industry is having on the local economy. In 2003, the crop of grapes grown in nine counties in Nova Scotia was valued at $640,000. Today, the province’s wine industry is worth $5.3 million and accounts for 8.7% of wine sales in the province.

Commercial production has doubled since 2000, and the number of farm and cottage wineries are expected to double by 2015. Nine wineries in the province currently make wines from 100% Nova Scotia-grown grapes and fruit, and several new wineries are poised to open in the next few years.

Of course, the Nova Scotia wine industry pales compared with its cousins across the country. Ontario is home to more than 90 wineries that produce 46 million litres of wine worth $400 million in retail sales each year. And the Ontario Wine Strategy is designed to propel the industry to $1.5 billion in sales by 2020. Canada’s second largest wine-producing province is British Columbia, which produces about 33% of Canada’s grapes and boasts 133 wineries. In 2004, it uncorked $230 million in sales and accounted for another $100 million in tourism dollars.

Nova Scotia is also discovering the tourism value of local wineries. The industry is becoming an integral part of the province’s tourism sector, which is currently struggling under the weight of a hefty Canadian dollar and over-the-top fuel prices. In response, the Winery Association has created a Discover Nova Scotia Wines passport. Consumers can win one of three “wine experience” vacations and get discounts on wine when they visit five of Nova Scotia’s wineries. Valley Wine Tours, the province’s first winery tour company, operated by two sommeliers, takes visitors to wineries in the Annapolis Valley.

The tourism spinoff should not be underestimated. More than 40,000 people from around the world visit the Jost Vineyards alone every year, says owner Hans Christian Jost.

Imbibing, it seems, has many rewards. IE