Is it legal to make commercial labrusca wine in Canada?

[LeChat]

I recently attended a conference by a Canadian researcher presenting advances in technology that allows more and more vinefera vines to be grown in Canada (that and climate change).

During the presentation, a question was asked whether research on labrusca vines was also being conducted.

The presenter then said that it was illegal to produce wine from labrusca grapes. Is this true?

I searched for references to this and could not find anything. Is it possible the presenter was referring to a vintner group (e.g., VQA) that disallowed production from those grapes?

 

[Snafflebit]

Oh no! I need to dump out my Catawba wine! I think you did not get the whole story.

I'm not a fan of the foxyness, but illegal???



Edit: Maybe Concord wine should be illegal.

 

[LeChat]

I believe the presenter was referring to commercial winemaking only but even then it raises a flag when she said it. She did mention that it was still being done in the finger lakes region.

But you do bring a good point snafflekid. Can someone describe foxyness? I only have had one bottle of wine made with concord and "foxy" is not what I would use to describe it!

 

[Snafflebit]

Some people describe foxy flavor as grape bubblegum or strawberry scent. I think it is similar to the smell and taste of grape jelly but less pleasant. Some wines are said to taste jammy but that taste is not like foxyness.

Methyl anthranilate is the chemical responsible for the odor.