VQAO (Vintners Quality Alliance Ontario) received a request from a winery to amend the VQA regulation to add Marquette to the list of permitted grape varieties. The VQAO has strict policy guidelines when it comes to evaluating new varieties. The VQAO’s Standards Development Committee, comprised of 14 senior winemakers and industry representatives taste tested a […]
People often assume that warm climate wine regions experience more success than cool climate wine regions. We’re here to put this rumour to rest! The truth is, both regions face their own challenges when it comes to growing wine grapes. In the end, mother nature calls the shots. Cool Climate Wine Regions Ontario is considered […]
Many people ask “What makes Ontario wines so unique?” It all comes down to how the grapes are grown in Ontario’s Great Lake regions. Great Ontario grapes and wines are made due to the unique effect the Great Lakes have on the vineyards. The Great Lakes, being Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior, began to […]
KICK THE DIRT…is not your average winery tour. Many wine events are held in wineries, or tasting rooms, amidst gorgeous décor and lovely music. But, have you ever experienced a wine tasting while walking through the vineyard, and seeing the grapes up close? Heard the music that the wind makes, rustling against the leaves? Met […]
In the words of the 15th-century theologian Martin Luther, “Beer is made by men, wine by God.” The sentiment is lovely, but one that Ontario grape growers probably take issue with. They might be more apt to agree with Victor Hugo’s proclamation: “God made only water, but man made wine.” Without the legions of dedicated […]
The holiday season is here, and that means that it’s time to plan the perfect gathering for friends and family. From a traditional Christmas dinner with all the fixings to a brunch buffet on New Year’s Day, there are many opportunities to serve up some wonderful food as the year draws to a close. Creating […]
Ever since the first grapes were brought to Ontario in 1811, the region has been home to superb vineyards and local wines. Ontario winemaking took off in earnest in the 1970s when Inniskillin was granted the first new winery licence since prohibition. In the late 1980’s a new era of grape growing began when the […]
Those of you old enough to remember the TV hit show I Love Lucy might remember an episode where Lucy goes to Italy. Trying to help with the tradition of making wine, Lucy, with her shoes and socks off, dances around in a giant wooden vat with Teresa to help crush the grapes and […]
When’s the last time you sipped a beautiful pink wine? If you’ve looked at them longingly but passed them because they seem like lightweights, you’re missing out. Sure, some self-proclaimed wine aficionados look down their noses at rosés and don’t consider them refined enough for their “educated palates,” but there’s really no reason for snobbery. […]
Great wines aren’t made — they’re grown. A wine is only as good as the grapes it comes from, and growers know that soil quality is crucial to producing a high-quality vintage. Though this is obvious to farmers and grape enthusiasts, average Canadians may find themselves wondering, “What’s the big deal?” For everyone who’s ever thought that the ground under […]