(Forbes) - It isn't like you could miss Canada on the map, exactly.

It's the second largest country in the world, after all, and its landmass contains a full 7% of the world's renewable water supply.

When it comes to the global wine map, however, Canada barely registers.

But after spending a week tasting and judging wines from Nova Scotia to Vancouver, I believe that this is an unfortunate gaping hole on the wine world's radar. Which also means it's a tremendous opportunity -- for forward-thinking retail buyers and sommeliers, certainly, and for everyday consumers to broaden their wine experience and knowledge.