Monthly Newsletter
Posted: June 4, 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.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – JULY 15, 2025
The OWAA Annual General Meeting will be held at Pond Inlet, Brock University on July 15, beginning at 11 am followed by lunch. Please join us! RSVP to helen.ly@vqaontario.ca by email, stating your name, winery affiliation and dietary requirements applicable.
MINISTER APPROVES NEW GRAPE VARIETIES FOR VQA WINES
The regulation amendment adding new grape varieties to the VQA list has been approved and these can now be selected in new VQA approval applications starting immediately. This is a preview announcement – we are expecting that Minister Stephen Crawford will make a formal announcement later in June. Find the updated list near the end of Regulation 406 here: O. Reg. 406/00 RULES OF VINTNERS QUALITY ALLIANCE ONTARIO RELATING TO TERMS FOR VQA WINE | ontario.ca.
RESOURCES FOR YOUR STAFF TRAINING
Turn Ontario Wine Appellation knowledge into retail confidence. Take our 30-minute online course – or ask your retail staff to take it – and find out why Ontario is such a great place to make wine and how the appellation system can help you make connections between the wine and the place. You can find this course and other resources online in our VQA Appellation Academy at learn.vqaontario.ca.
LAST CALL FOR RETAIL BOOTCAMP – JOIN US!
CCOVI is giving OWAA a platform at their Summer Symposium: Retail Bootcamp to talk about why Appellation matters and how VQA knowledge can be used in the retail setting to connect customers with authentic wines of origin.
On June 9, CCOVI is hosting the Summer Symposium: Retail Bootcamp-a half-day workshop at Brock University that’s all about leveling up wine knowledge, storytelling chops, and front-line confidence when it comes to selling Ontario wine.
We’ll dig into:
- Storytelling as a superpower in wine sales
- Why VQA and appellation knowledge matters (and how to make it matter to your customers) – presented by Katherina from the Ontario Wine Appellation Authority
- And a flavour chemistry tasting
Cost is $135 for the morning.
Here’s the link to check it out and register
For who?: New, returning, and veteran retail staff at wineries and wine retail who sell Ontario wine. Also of interest to anyone involved in promoting Ontario wine (advertising, social media, wine writers, industry associations).
OFFICE CLOSURE
Please note that our office will be closed Monday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 1, for the Canada Day weekend. Please do not deliver wine to the office on those days. We will re-open on Wednesday, July 2. The Tasting Panel for that week will be convened on Friday, July 4 if the number of samples is sufficient. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.