Okanagan Valley Wineries
The Okanagan Valley is British Columbia's oldest and main grape-growing
region. Although it lies on the same latitude as the northern German and
French vineyards, the Okanagan Valley is not all classified as a "cool-climate"
growing region. Distinct microclimates occur throughout the Valley, from the
hot, sandy, desert soils in the southern valley to the cooler vineyard sites in
the north, with their deep topsoil and clay. Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Pinot Gris and Pinot noir grow in the south, while Pinot blanc,
Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer are grown in the mid and
northern regions, some left to freeze on the vine for the region's famed ice
wines.
Vintner’s Quality Alliance (VQA)
http://www.missionhillwinery.com/estate_wines/vqa.html
VINTNERS' QUALITY ALLIANCE (VQA)
An appellation of origin system that all ow s consumers to
identify Canadian w ines made from grapes grow n in
designated viticultural areas (DV A). In British Columbia, there
are four DV As including the Okanagan Valle y.
In Canada, w ines made from 100 per cent Canadian -grow n
grapes ma y carry the Vin tners’ Quality Alliance (VQ A)
designation, provided the y meet pre -determined standards for
quality and undergo a rigorous certification process.
VQ A Facts:




The program began in Ontario in 1988 and moved west
to British Columbia a year later.
Wines w ith t he VQ A seal must be made from 100%
Canadian grow n grapes.
A trained six -person panel blind-tastes each wine,
screening out w ines lacking varietal character or with
obvious w inemaking faults.
Buying a w ine with the VQ A designation guarantees the
authenticity of the w ine and the absence of faults.
http://www.homeandw eb.com/vqaw ine.htm
The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) is an Appellation of Origin system by
which consumers can identify wines of Canada based on the origin of the
grapes from which they are produced.
With the VQA system, Canada joins other leading wine-producing countries in
developing a body of regulations and setting high standards for its wines.
In 1935, for example, France introduced its Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
system that remains in place today. Italy introduced its Denominazione
Origine Controlata designation in 1963. In Germany, the Qualitatswein mit
Predicat system was implemented in 1971. The United States has a
comparable system, begun in 1978.
In Ontario, the VQA officially began in 1988. The Ontario VQA encouraged
the British Columbia wine industry to undertake a similar VQA program, which
the province did in 1990. Each region maintains several unique rules and
regulations that are specific to it. The principles are similar to the regions of
France, such as Burgundy or Bordeaux, functioning under the national
appellation system administered by the Institute National des Appellations
d'Origine.
There are two distinct wine-producing regions in Canada: the provinces of
Ontario and British Columbia. The VQA recognizes three Designated
Viticultural Areas in Ontario, and four in British Columbia. In Ontario, the three
DVAs are: Niagara Peninsula; Pelee Island; and Lake Erie North Shore. In
British Columbia the four recognized DVAs are: the Okanagan Valley; the
Similkameen Valley; the Fraser Valley; and Vancouver Island.
The VQA in Ontario began as an independent alliance of wineries, grape
growers, the provincial liquor regulator (the Liquor Control Board of Ontario),
and academic, hospitality, and research institutions. The VQA evolved into
Ontario's official appellation system, regulated under provincial law, in mid2000.
A stringent code administered by the VQA governs the use of geographic or
varietal designations of wine:





Wines must be made from classic Vitis vinifera varieties such as
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Riesling , or from preferred hybrids.
For varietal designation, wine must contain at least 85 percent of the
variety named on the label, and must exhibit the dominant character of
that variety.
All grape varieties must reach a specified minimum level of natural
sugar at the time of harvest -- levels are set for vineyard-designated
and estate-bottled wines, as well as dessert and icewine.
Wines described as estate-bottled must be made from 100 percent
grapes owned or controlled by the winery in a viticultural area.
If a particular vineyard designation is used, the site must be within a
recognized viticultural area and all (100 percent) grapes must come
from the designated vineyard.
Wines are evaluated by an independent panel of experts, and only those that
meet or exceed the appellation standards are awarded the VQA designation.
Such wines may show a VQA medallion on the bottle. In addition, the VQA
gold medallion is awarded to wines that show exceptional quality, as judged
by the VQA tasting panel. For more information on the VQA, contact:
VQA Ontario
1 Yonge Street, Suite 1601
Toronto, ON, M5E 1E5
ph. 416-367-2002
fax: 416-367-4044
Disclaimer: This site is not the official VQA CANADA site,
it is an independently owned and operated site.
For more information on VQA Canada please contact the above.