VQA Appellations

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.

• Lake Erie North Shore
  • Ontario’s southernmost region benefits from warm temperatures and a long growing season
  • The increased sunshine and the warm, shallow waters of Lake Erie, afford excellent ripening conditions for more full-bodied wines
  • This appellation includes Ontario’s most recently established sub-appellation, known as the South Islands, which includes well-known Pelee Island
• Niagara Peninsula
  • Ontario’s oldest wine region draws its cool climate character from winds off the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario
  • The diverse soil types are perfect for a wide range of grapes
• Prince Edward County
  • Lake-effect temperatures, a limestone base and stony soil create concentrated fruit with a uniquely crisp minerality
  • Ontario’s northernmost region is a virtual island at the eastern end of Lake Ontario with more than 800km of shoreline, including renowned Sandbanks Provincial Park

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:

• Lincoln Lakeshore, Vinemount Ridge, Creek Shores
• Beamsville Bench, Twenty Mile Bench, Short Hills Bench (when grouped together form a regional appellation called the Niagara Escarpment)
• Niagara Lakeshore, Four Mile Creek, St. David’s Bench, Niagara River (when grouped together form a regional appellation called Niagara-on-the-Lake)

• The Lake Erie North Shore appellation includes the sub-appellation South Islands.

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.