VQA
A media release by the VQA announcing the launch of their "Appellation of Origin" system for Canadian wines, June 27, 1989.
The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) is an Appellation of Origin system designed to enable consumers to identify Ontario wines by the origin of the grapes from which they were produced. This initiative was important because it provided a set of standards that VQA products must adhere to, thereby ensuring the quality of the wine. Many leading wine-producing countries use such systems, including France, Italy, Germany, and the United States. Donald Ziraldo was instrumental in the founding and development of the VQA.
Many environmental factors affect the quality of wine such as soil and microclimate. Certain regions with favourable conditions tend to consistently produce better wine. The VQA and similar systems provide the consumer with this information on the wine label such as the winery location, vineyard designation, and Appellation of Origin (Designated Viticultural Area). Other important information such as grape variety and vintage are also included. There are three Designated Viticultural Areas (DVA) recognized by the VQA in Ontario: Niagara Peninsula, Pelee Island, and Lake Erie North Shore. There are also several areas recognized by the VQA in British Columbia including the Okanagan Valley, the Similkameen Valley, the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island.
A strict code of regulations must be adhered to by participating Ontario vintners and wineries. Their wines must be produced from 100 percent Ontario-grown grapes using only Vitis vinifera varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. For varietals, 85 percent of the wine must be made from the variety on the label. Minimum sugar levels must be met and wines are evaluated by an independent panel of experts before being awarded the VQA medallion. The VQA in Ontario is an independent body with representatives from Ontario wineries, grape growers, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario as well as academic, hospitality, and research institutions.
Letter from Michael Wilson to Donald Ziraldo congratulating him on his success with the VQA, 1993.
A letter to Ziraldo from Michael Wilson, Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Minister for International Trade, makes clear the significance of the VQA to the success of the Canadian wine industry. Wilson writes that "...congratulations are due to you as chairman of the Ontario Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) for the outstanding contribution which has been made by the Alliance. The creation of the VQA standards, and the strict adherence to those standards, has engineered a phenomenal turnaround in the fortunes of the Canadian wine industry."