Manitoba is the easternmost of the three Prairie Provinces. Comparatively level, Manitoba generally ranges from 490-ft./150 m to 980-ft./300 m above sea level. Baldy Mountain is Manitoba's highest point, at 2727 ft./831 m. Agricultural land lies in a triangle, bordering Saskatchewan and the U.S., cutting diagonally across lake Winnipeg. The northern 3/5 of Manitoba is Precambrian Shield. In northernmost Manitoba lies tundra and permafrost (permanently frozen subsoil). All waters in Manitoba flow to Hudson Bay. Before settlement, a large area of southern Manitoba was flood plain or swamp. An extensive system of drainage ditches had to be constructed throughout south central Manitoba to make the region suitable for cultivation.

Fruits grow wild and abuntant in Maitoba's rich soil and hot summers making it possible to produce quality fruit wines.

Warm, sunny summers and cold bright winters characterize Manitoba's climate. Afternoon temperatures in July and August Average 25ºC with midwinter daytime readings almost always remaining well below freezing. Wide variations from average values are common in all seasons. More than half of the annual precipitation falls in the summer months in the form of brief heavy showers. Most of southern Manitoba receives 110-140 cm of snow annually with the heaviest snow falls occurring in the northeast, in the Duck and Riding Mountains. (160 cm). .

D.D. Leobard 133 DeBaets Street Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada   R2J 3R9 204-661-9007 Fax 204-233-4626 ddleobard@mts.net
Located in the provincial capital Winnipeg using quality Manitoba products only. The winery is co owned by Leonard Strelein and Denis d'Eschambault. The winery hopes to produce 5000 in 2004 consisting of Blueberry wine, Dry Strawberry, Iced Strawberry and Rhuberry. Winemaker: Leonard Streilein
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Rigby Orchards Ltd. Box 163 Killarney MB R0K 1G0 CONTACT: Grant A Rigby PHONE: 204-523-8879 FAX: 204-269-6841
Rigby Orchards Estate Wine is processed from fresh berries grown on a 14-acre raspberry orchard northwest of Killarney, Manitoba. Planted in 1987 by farmer and entrepreneur Grant Rigby and his late father, Gerald, the family has been in agricultural production since 1882. Today the Rigby commercial fruit orchard is synonymous with their Rigby fruit juice nectar, as well as salad dressings and dessert toppings. Rigby Orchards' latest offering, a pair of estate wines (dry and medium-sweet), may prove to be their best work yet. They were recently recognized by the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association as one of the five best new prairie-grown food products. Their dessert wine was chosen to be served on a recent Royal visit . The wines are sold under the name Killarney.

Terroir french for soil refers to the type and quality of soil, and more broadly to the microclimate and overall environmental conditions, of a vineyard or winemaking region. All these factors impart a unique flavour to the wine.

Red grapes need a longer growing season than white grapes. Many BC wineries have vineyards in the southern Okanagan region for their red grapes.