Our Appellations at a Glance

Located between 41° and 44° North, Ontario’s Wine Country is situated in the heart of the world’s fine wine zone. Stretching across 18,000 acres (7,284 hectares), our vineyards are made up of complex limestone-based soils created by glaciers thousands of years ago. Ontario’s appellations, geographically defined wine areas, benefit directly from their proximity to three of the five Great Lakes of North America, the largest fresh water system in the world. This unique combination of latitude, lakes and limestone is the foundation on which Ontario is making globally acclaimed wines.

Lake Erie North Shore

Sunny days & Cool breezes

• Ontario’s southernmost appellation benefits from warm temperatures and a long growing season

• Long sunshine hours and the warm, shallow waters of Lake Erie afford excellent ripening conditions for full-bodied wines

• This appellation includes Ontario’s newest sub-appellation, known as the South Islands, which includes well-known Pelee Island

Prince Edward County

Lake winds & Stony soils

• Ontario’s coolest appellation is a virtual island on the northeastern end of Lake Ontario with more than 800 kilometres of shoreline, including renowned Sandbanks Provincial Park

• Stony calcareous limestone soils and a short growing season produce concentrated fruit resulting in wines with bright acidity and distinct mineral character

Niagara Peninsula

Diverse glacial soils & Lakeside vineyards

• Ontario’s oldest wine appellation draws its cool climate character from winds off the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario

• Complex glacial soils carved from the Ice Age are the backbone for exciting wines from a wide range of grapes

This appellation encompasses 10 sub-appellations and 2 regional 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)

“Refreshing, mineral-driven, site-specific wine.”

– Ian D’Agata, Acclaimed Author and Wine Critic

Ontario’s Exceptional Wines On the Cutting Edge of Cool! The Epitome of Cool Climate

Place is everything when it comes to wine. It’s where the sun, the rain, the air and the soil all meet – one special and unique place, like nowhere else on Earth. Cool climates are said to produce the most elegant and exciting wines in the world. Our place is Ontario, and it is the epitome of cool climate.

Latitude: Poised for Perfection!

41 O to 44 O North

While you might think Ontario is too far north for growing grapes, Ontario’s wine regions actually share the same latitude with other well-known wine regions including Tuscany and Oregon. Ontario’s angle to the sun allows us to soak up every drop of sunshine needed to ripen classic grape varieties.

Ontario’s grape-growing season compares to top internationally recognized wine regions. 110 Days + Fluctuations in Daily Temperature = Perfect Balance + Delicious Fruit Expression

Lakes: The Great Ones!

Ontario’s Magnificent Moderators

Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron – part of the largest freshwater system in the world –shape Ontario’s wine regions and play a major role in moderating the extremes of our continental climate. These lakes create the perfect cool climate conditions, giving our wines elegance, structure, food friendliness and good aging potential.

• Cool lake air in the spring protects from early bud break and protects against spring frost

• Air flow during the growing season moderates hot summer days, maintaining freshness and acidity

• Warm lake air in the fall extends the growing season, providing perfect ripening conditions

Limestone: It’s About Our Rocks! 500 Million Years in the Making

If there were to be a “most famous” soil type for producing fine wine, it would probably be limestone. Ontario’s soils in the Great Lakes basin vary from sand to clay to rock, with a high concentration of limestone from an ancient seabed that was exposed to over one million years of glacial activity. Ontario is one of the few wine regions in the world that is founded on limestone, similar to Burgundy and Champagne. Limestone nutrients and minerality produce a special lift and elegance in our wine.

Origin, Quality, Authenticity

The Ontario Wine Appellation Authority (OWAA) sets and enforces the standards for the wine that’s made here. At OWAA, they’re appellation obsessed.

Origin

Every VQA wine label shows where the grapes are grown – look for it between the VQA letters on the label. E.g., “VQA Twenty Mile Bench VQA.”

Quality

The Ontario Wine Appellation Authority enforces winemaking standards and labelling integrity through a rigorous certification program that consumers can trust

Authenticity

Every VQA wine is crafted in Ontario and made with 100% Ontario-grown grapes, so you know it’s an authentic local wine

Our Signature Varieties

Ontario produces most of the international varieties that you know and love. Our signature varieties, as well as examples of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Merlot and Baco Noir, express Ontario’s distinctive terroir bringing the Ontario wine story to life. Each is exciting, produced as a single varietal wine or used as the foundation for classic blends, sparkling, rosé and Icewine.

Chardonnay

Ontario’s cool climate produces world class Chardonnay, bar none.

• Flavours: Apple, pear & peach

• Unoaked styles are fresh; oaked styles are richer; sparkling wine made with Chardonnay is classic

Riesling

Quintessentially fresh, crisp & aromatic, Riesling is considered to be one of the world’s greatest white wines.

• Flavours: Citrus, peach & green apple

• Ontario has a wide range of styles from dry to off-dry to sweet

Pinot Noir

Ontario Pinot Noir is sheer elegance, expressing the different terroir of Ontario perfectly.

• Flavours: Cherry, raspberry & earthiness

• Light to medium-bodied & food-friendly

Cabernet Franc

The aristocratic parent of Cabernet Sauvignon is the soul of Ontario’s reds.

• Flavours: Raspberry, chocolate & spice Medium to full-bodied, bright acidity & silky tannins

Gamay Noir

Fruity, floral & earthy, Gamay has been described as the “next big thing” in Ontario.

• Flavours: Cherry, blackberry & violet

• Bright acidity, easy drinking & flavourful

Sparkling – a Pop of Fun!

Celebrate the everyday by popping open a bottle of VQA sparkling! Ontario’s cool climate and limestone soils produce some of the world’s best sparkling wines. Ontario VQA bubbly is incredibly versatile, so it’s easy to match with any cuisine.

Traditional Method

• One of the most celebrated methods of crafting sparkling wine

• Secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle (aging on the lees/dead yeast cells)

• The result is delicate bubbles, complex flavours and fine brioche aromas

CHARMAT/CUVE CLOSE METHOD

• Produces sparkling wines that are fresh, vibrant and fruit forward

• Secondary fermentation takes place in steel tanks before bottling

KEY FLAVOURS

Citrus

Brioche Mineral

KEY FLAVOURS

Floral Citrus Berry

Trendy Effervescents

• Often called Pét-Nat or Méthode Ancestrale

• Bubbles usually have light and fizzy mouthfeel

• Sometimes cloudy as they are typically unfiltered

• Usually lower in alcohol and sweeter due to naturally unfermented sugars

Rosé Wines – la Vie en Rosé!

Fun, trendy and versatile – Ontario Rosé is hot! Dry or off-dry, soft and lush or crisp and structured, Ontario VQA Rosé is always refreshing. Rosé is perfect to enjoy on its own or to liven up your next dinner party.

Ros Wines

• The pink hue comes from the short maceration (a.k.a. skin contact) before the grapes are pressed

• Common varieties used are Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Cabernet Franc and Merlot

• Still or Sparkling? The choice is yours!

KEY FLAVOURS

Rose petal

Strawberry

Citrus

Orange Wines

• Skin Fermented white wines, or orange wines, are made from white or pink grape varieties (such as Gewürztraminer, Vidal, Riesling and Chardonnay) fermented on the grape skins for a minimum of 10 days

• Orange wines often have herbal notes and tea-like characteristics

• Ontario was one of the first regions in the world to establish a Skin-Fermented White Wine category

Icewine – Authentically Canadian

Luscious and luxurious, Ontario VQA Icewine has highly concentrated flavours made from grapes that have been left to freeze naturally on the vine. Ontario’s ideal climatic conditions set the stage for producing some of the finest Icewine in the world.

Internationally renowned, Ontario VQA Icewine is moderate in alcohol and has vibrant acidity that is in perfect harmony with complex rich flavours of apricot and passionfruit.

• The naturally frozen grapes are typically harvested between December & February

• It must be -8°C or colder for both picking and pressing of Icewine grapes

• The remaining juice is incredibly concentrated, sweet and rich which is then fermented to make Icewine

• Vidal, Riesling and Cabernet Franc are the most common varieties

• Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are produced in small quantities

• Ontario has been producing Icewine every year for over 35 years

• Icewine is moderate in alcohol and medium- to full-bodied, depending on the winery’s house style

You need 10 Icewine grapes to make 1 single ml of Icewine.

CHECK IT OUT!

Icewine

Icewine – Liquid Gold

Icewine is best served well chilled at 10-12°C. The ideal serving size is 1.5 oz per person. Icewine is not just a dessert wine! This liquid gold is perfect on its own, paired with your favourite meal or even in a variety of cocktails.

Pairings

SAVOURY : Salty foods enhance Icewine’s fruit flavours, while the sweetness of the wine softens the sharp saltiness of the dish.

SPICY : The cool, fruity sweetness of VQA Icewine takes the heat out of the dish, and maintains the flavours of the spices.

SWEET : When pairing dessert with VQA Icewine be sure the dessert is sweeter than the wine to allow both the wine and the dish to shine.

Cocktails

Enjoy VQA Icewine in your favourite cocktail to shake up your happy hour. For delicious recipes visit winecountryontario.ca/icewine

IcewineMartini

WinterFestival

Winemaking 101

Winemaking is an art – a delicious masterpiece in a bottle. Ontario VQA winemakers and vintners bring their passion and dedication to every bottle they craft. Visit your favourite winery and book a tour today to see the transformation from grapes to wine first-hand.

Journey of a Table Wine Starts Here

Harvesting/Picking

When the grapes are at optimal ripeness they are picked, often by hand, in order to choose the best clusters for the wine.

Sorting/Crushing

Harvested grapes are then sorted to remove leaves or damaged berries. The sorted grapes are gently crushed to break the skins of the grapes or left whole, depending on the wine style.

Fermentation

The fermentation process begins when yeast becomes active and starts to consume the natural sugars in the grape juice, and starts to convert them into alcohol. Depending on the wine style, this process may or may not include contact with grape skins.

Pressing

Red Wines: After fermentation is complete and the desired colour and flavours are achieved the wine is gently pressed to remove the skins, seeds and pulp. White Wines: Immediately after the de-stemming/ crushing step the juice is gently pressed to remove the skins, seeds and pulp.

Book a wine tour at a VQA winery to enjoy & learn more!

Bottling

The wine is transferred into glass bottles, labelled and ready to enjoy!

Fining/Filtering

The wine is sometimes fined and filtered to remove any unwanted particles. Some winemakers choose to skip this step, resulting in cloudier and oftentimes more “rustic”-style wines.

Aging

Some wines are aged in oak barrels to develop more complex and balanced flavours; others are aged in stainless steel tanks. This step will depend on the grapes used and how the winemaker wants the wine to taste. Aging can last from a couple of months to many years.

Sustainability

VQA wines are 100% grown and crafted in Ontario and are always the more sustainable wine choice for Ontarians.

Why look any further than your own backyard? Choosing sustainable wines will not only benefit the environment, but also the economy and the community.

The Spirit of Sustainability starts with VQA.

100% Ontario-grown grapes. 100% locally crafted wines.

So close to home, Ontario VQA wine doesn’t have to travel an ocean or a continent to reach you – reducing its environmental footprint. Woven into the fabric of our community, every Ontarian is part of our local wine story. Your choice matters. Buying Ontario VQA wine crafted close to home reduces your carbon footprint.

Raise a glass of your favourite VQA wine – join us in shaping the next generation of wine and building a more sustainable future together.

Environment

Buying Ontario VQA wine crafted close to home reduces your carbon footprint

Economy

The purchase of each bottle of VQA Ontario wine generates $98.20 of economic impact for the Ontario economy

Community

Ontario’s wine industry generates over 22,000 jobs in culture, agriculture, hospitality and tourism

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

LEED is a green building rating system. It promotes global adoption of green building and development practices through the implementation of universal performance criteria. It is administered in Canada by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). Ontario is home to the world’s first LEED-certified winery.