Monthly Newsletter
Posted: September 8, 2025
VQA IS 100% ONTARIO AND 100% CANADIAN. EVERY TIME. GUARANTEED.
Now more than ever, it’s time to share this message with every consumer in Ontario. VQA is the only guarantee that a wine is 100% Ontario. Look for the VQA letters or the logo for authentic, local wine. Every time. Guaranteed.
SUSAN PIOVESAN’S RETIREMENT
After 16 years with OWAA, Susan Piovesan, our Compliance and IT Systems Manager, is retiring on September 5, 2025. Since joining us in August 2009, Susan has been instrumental in keeping our operations running smoothly and achieving our goals across the organization. She designed, built and maintained our first interactive websites, managed and updated our IT systems, provided user support and created all of our statistical reporting and data management programs. Susan was also a VQA inspector and conducted many field inspections, providing compliance advice and admin support to our members. We are grateful for her long service and wish her all the best in retirement!
We are very pleased that Susan will continue to provide some specialized IT support services on a part-time contract basis. For general user support related to VQA Services, please call the office or email info@vqaontario.ca.
PENDING REGULATION CHANGES
Public comments are now closed on the proposed changes to amend VQA Regulation 406 to allow certain VQA-approved wines to be packaged anywhere in Canada for final sale, and to create a new category of sparkling wine called “Fracette”. The proposed changes are with the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement for review and approval.
Other changes that have been recommended to government include adding Albarino to the list of approved grape varieties. It is expected that public consultations will open soon.
MUST KNOW FOR HARVEST – CHECK BRIX MINIMUMS
Brix testing is required for all VQA-eligible wines including wines made from the newly approved grape varieties and all Sparkling wines. Do not forget to register all of your VQA grapes through GGO and obtain the brix test results!
Be sure to check your brix levels to ensure you meet the minimums required for each variety for your desired appellation labelling. The brix minimums vary by variety and each variety used in a blend must meet the varietal-minimum brix. For the full list of Authorized Grape Varieties and Minimum Brix Levels of Grapes, please review the regulation. O. Reg. 406/00 RULES OF VINTNERS QUALITY ALLIANCE ONTARIO RELATING TO TERMS FOR VQA WINE | ontario.ca
GOOD TO KNOW – HOW TO RESUBMIT YOUR LABEL
Label reviews are completed for every wine application. Each label is assessed against the application and lab results to ensure accuracy. If your label is not compliant and fails the label review, comments will be provided indicating the problem and corrective action required to bring your label into compliance. If you wish to submit a corrected label, it will be re-assessed at no additional cost. To resubmit your label:
- Login to VQA Services and open the specific wine application
- Choose “Resubmit Application”
- Choose “Resubmit for Label Review” under “Test Selections” (note if you are submitting for other re-tests such as lab testing, select them now)
- Enter your name and select “Resubmit the Application”
- The Label Wizard will open – allowing you to upload your corrected label files.
- The application will automatically re-join the queue for label review – no need to call us unless you have a specific concern.
Once the corrected label is approved – make sure the correct version is on all the bottles!
TOP QUESTION OF THE SUMMER
Q: Can I seek a VQA approval for a wine made from past vintages of the newly added grape varieties?
A: Yes! Provided that the grapes were tested and registered by GGO at the time of harvest. VQA eligibility is based on the rules at the time you make the application for approval so a wine made from any vintage using the newly added grape varieties could be VQA-eligible.
HAPPY HARVEST FROM THE ONTARIO WINE APPELLATION AUTHORITY