Monthly Newsletter
Posted: October 14, 2026
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.
VQA MINIMUMS BRIX AT HARVEST APPLY TO ALL GRAPE VARIETIES
PLEASE CHECK BEFORE YOU BLEND
As harvest continues, a reminder to keep the VQA Brix table close at hand when making picking and winemaking decisions. Brix at harvest can directly affect the eligibility and labelling options for your finished wines.
If grapes are harvested below the minimum Brix listed for a “viticultural area”, the finished wine cannot carry an appellation, sub-appellation or vineyard name. Grapes that fall between the Ontario minimum and the viticultural area minimum may still be eligible for VQA certification, but the wine must be declassified to VQA Ontario.
As a reminder, no grapes harvested below 17°ree; Brix cannot be used in VQA wines, with the exception of grapes intended for Sparkling Wine.
Please refer to the complete list of Minimum Brix in Regulation 406 here: Minimum Brix in Regulation 406.
No exceptions will be made. Please reach out to Katherina Radcliffe if you have any questions about brix or the eligibility of your grapes for VQA wine.
REGISTER YOUR LATE HARVEST AND SKIN FERMENTED WHITE WINES
Please note that the deadline to register grapes for Late Harvest, Icewine and Skin Fermented White Wine is November 15. To register, login to your online VQA Services account and select “Icewine Juice Monitoring” or “Skin Fermented White Tracking”.
NOTICE OF FEE INCREASE
The following changes to wine approval fees will take effect on November 1, 2026
| Service | New Fee |
|---|---|
| Approval application with Full lab | $350 |
| Approval application with Basic lab | $185 |
| Re-testing | As published by provider |
| EU testing and VI-1 certificate | $50 |
| EU certificate re-issue | No charge |
These increases are a result of changes in prices for analytical testing that are part of the VQA wine approval process. OWAA recovers testing costs as part of the approval application fee on a straight cost-recovery basis.
All other fees remain unchanged.
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY ENGAGEMENT
In September, the Ontario Wine Appellation Authority participated in Taste! Community Grown at Macaulay Heritage Park in Prince Edward County. The event provided an opportunity to connect directly with local winery stakeholders and consumers, while sharing the story of the Prince Edward County appellation and the unique attributes that define the region. Through educational displays and conversations, OWAA staff highlighted the role of VQA in protecting the integrity and authenticity of Ontario wine, and the value of a regulated appellation system in helping consumers understand and trust where their wine comes from.