The Wave of Italian Immigration and Wine in Canada

The Story of Italian Immigration and Wine

A Journey in Every Glass

Wine is more than a drink — it’s a vessel of memory. Each bottle carries the story of the people who made it, the soil they worked, and the traditions they carried across oceans. In the decades after the Second World War, one of the most significant migrations in Canadian history brought with it not only new languages, foods, and customs, but also a deep and ancient relationship with the vine.

Postwar Italian Migration to Canada

Roots in the Old Country

In the decades following the Second World War, roughly one million Italians made Canada their home — part of a broader 20th-century diaspora that saw millions leave Italy in search of opportunity. The largest wave came between the early 1950s and early 1970s, when over 80% of arrivals hailed from the impoverished south — Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia, and Campania — as well as from the agrarian heartlands of Friuli and Veneto in the northeast.

Today, the Greater Toronto Area is home to the fourth-largest Italian community outside Italy, surpassed only by São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and New York City. This community is the living legacy of more than a century of migration, its roots stretching from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna to the Alpine foothills of Friuli, and its influence woven into the cultural, culinary, and viticultural fabric of Canada.

These regions are steeped in history: from the Paleolithic settlements of Matera, inhabited for over 10,000 years, to the Greek colonies of Sicily and Calabria, the grandeur of ancient Rome, the flowering of the Renaissance, and the vibrancy of modern Italy. Each also boasts a deep-rooted wine culture, with indigenous grape varieties whose origins trace back to the ancient Greeks and, in some cases, to the era of Alexander the Great.

Taste a Legacy: Join Our Wine Tasting Event

The story of Italian migration is deeply woven into our city's fabric, and their enduring love for wine is a living part of that legacy. You can experience this rich history firsthand by joining us at our upcoming Italian wine tasting event. Taste the stories and traditions we've explored in this blog, and discover the deep connection between the land and its people. Buy your tickets here and continue the journey with us.