More than just a stamp on a bottle, VQA Ontario sets standards to maintain the integrity of authenticity for locally grown Ontario wine – that’s proudly 100% from here. At VQA, they’re appellation obsessed.
0 My Trip Plans
More than just a stamp on a bottle, VQA Ontario sets standards to maintain the integrity of authenticity for locally grown Ontario wine – that’s proudly 100% from here. At VQA, they’re appellation obsessed.
To help you understand the unique characteristics of Ontario wines, every VQA wine label shows where the grapes are grown – just look for the appellation name between the VQA letters on the label.
VQA enforces winemaking standards and label integrity through a rigorous certification program that you can trust. When you see VQA on the bottle, you’ll know that it’s passed intensive testing to ensure the highest of wine standards.
Every VQA wine is crafted from 100% Ontario-grown grapes, so you can feel confident and proud that it’s an authentic local wine.
The majority of Canada’s wines come from Ontario’s appellations, where approximately 17,000 acres of wine grape vineyards are planted. These lie in the south of the province between 41° and 44° North latitude, with cold winters and hot summers moderated by the proximity of the Great Lakes.
Ontario has identified primary grape-growing regions, or “appellations,” where the soil and climate create unique growing conditions. (It’s the same principle that makes Vidalia onions, Georgia peaches and Malpeque oysters so special.) “Terroir” is the name for the sum of these conditions: Meaning “sense of place,” it expresses a wine’s relationship to the soil, climate and natural surroundings. When you understand an appellation, you can begin to understand the unique characteristics of its wine.
Ontario has currently identified three primary Viticultural Areas (VAs) or appellations of origin: Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward County. In addition, within the Niagara Peninsula appellation, decades of grape growing experience and extensive geographic research has identified 10 distinct growing areas. These sub-appellations include areas on the plains close to Lake Ontario and the benchlands of the Niagara Escarpment. The Lake Erie North Shore Appellation has the newest of Ontario’s sub-appellation: South Islands.
Sub-appellations are smaller areas within an appellation, such as Niagara Lakeshore and Beamsville Bench. Grape growers adapt to the soils and microclimates of these smaller zones, finding the best combinations of grape variety, location and wine style to create wines that reflect the essence of where they’re from. The Niagara Peninsula appellation encompasses 10 sub-appellations:
VQA Ontario also sets the standards for the wine that’s made here. When you see VQA Ontario and an appellation name on a bottle of wine, you can be sure that what’s inside has passed through a strict quality-assurance and label-integrity program, and is made entirely from grapes grown in Ontario.
For more information on VQA Ontario, check out their website.
Wine labels can be confusing but can also give you some key information about what you will find inside the bottle. The VQA logo is not always present on the label but look out for the VQA markings surrounding the appellation to be sure your wine choice is 100% VQA certified.
Winery: This can be the name of the winery where the wine is manufactured, or the brand name of the wine that is made by that particular winery.
Vintage: This is the year that the grapes were grown. Often times, the wines are aged for a number of years before bottling.
Grape Variety: The type of grape (or grapes) that are contained in the bottle. Sometimes wineries do not list the grape varieties and instead use a proprietary name, particularly if it is a blend of different grape varieties.
Appellation: Where the grapes are grown. Wineries may choose to show the appellations, the sub-appellation or even the specific vineyard where the grapes are grown.
Certification: Always look for the VQA letters surrounding the appellation to ensure that the wine is certified and 100% Ontario grown grapes.
Capacity: The volume of wine in the bottle. The standard bottle is 750ml but larger and smaller sizes are sometimes available.
Alcohol by Volume: The amount of alcohol that the wine contains. Different varieties, vintages and winemaking techniques can all affect this number.