How to become a VQA winery:

You must join VQA Ontario before you can receive a “certification” for a VQA wine.  Any winery that has a valid licence to manufacture wine in the Province of Ontario may join.  This licence is issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. (www.agco.on.ca) 

Once you become a member, you may submit wines to be approved by VQA Ontario and get permission to use the terms and descriptions that are protected under the VQA Act.  You may not use VQA label terms without approval.

There is an annual membership fee of $1000 and a fee of 3½ cents levied on each bottle of wine sold as VQA wine.  Other fees apply for specific services such as wine testing.

 

How to make a wine that will be eligible for VQA approval:

If you are planning to make a wine that will be eligible for VQA status, you should be familiar with the winemaking, labelling and record keeping requirements before you start.  These can be found on the regulations page of our members section.

It is a good idea to contact VQA Ontario with your questions and for more information early in the planning stage.  Please call or email us (info@vqaontario.ca).  You may also want to contact existing VQA wineries for tips.

All grapes used in VQA wines must be tested and registered at the time of harvest by the Grape Growers of Ontario (www.grapegrowersofontario.com).  Detailed records of the grapes, must and wine must then be kept and made available for audit throughout its life until it is sold.  These include exact details of the volumes and origin of all grapes used in any given wine and wine-making practices and treatments used.

When the wine is finished and ready to bottle, samples are submitted to VQA Ontario for evaluation.  The wine is tasted by a panel of tasters, analysed for pesticide residues, heavy metals and basic wine chemistry and the proposed label is reviewed.  Each wine must successfully complete all parts of this process before it can be released for sale or advertised using any restricted label terms (see list on right).   

How to join:

You must hold a valid manufacturers licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to join VQA Ontario.  Contact us by email at info@vqaontario.ca or telephone at 416-367-2002 for an access code to complete an online membership application.

 

Restricted label terms:

Only member wineries may apply to use VQA terms, descriptors and designations to describe wine produced in Ontario.

VQA regulations prohibit the use of the following terms, descriptions and designations (or any variation of these terms) on a label or container of wine unless the wine is approved:

1. Vintners Quality Alliance.
2. VQA.
3. Ontario.
4. Pelee Island.
5. Niagara Peninsula.
1. Niagara-on-the-Lake.
2. Niagara River.
3. Niagara Lakeshore.
4. Four Mile Creek.
5. St. David’s Bench.
6. Niagara Escarpment.
7. Lincoln Lakeshore.
8. Creek Shores.
9. Beamsville Bench.
10. Twenty Mile Bench.
11. Short Hills Bench.
12. Vinemount Ridge.
6. Lake Erie North Shore.
7. Prince Edward County.
8. Estate Bottled.
9. Vineyard.
10. Meritage.
11. Icewine.
12. Botrytized.
13. Botrytis Affected.
14. B.A.
15. Totally Botrytized.
16. Totally Botrytis Affected.
17. T.B.A.
18. Late Harvest Wine.
19. Select Late Harvest Wine.
20. Special Select Late Harvest Wine.
21. Vin du Curé.
22. Blanc de Noirs.
23. Icewine Dosage.
24. Dosage of Icewine.

25. Sparkling Icewine.

Variations such as an alternate spellings, abbreviations or using any portion of these terms are not permitted. Fines for misuse are up to $100,000 per count.

 

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