Ontario’s appellation system
Sets and enforces standards, including labelling standards, for wines made from Ontario grapes
Administered by VQA Ontario under the VQA Act and regulations
Purpose is to verify origin and provide a quality assurance mechanism easily identifiable by consumers
VQAO is a consumer protection agency not a marketing collective
VQA Regulations
Protects certain terms by restricting their use
Label integrity for consumersProtects/enhances reputation of regions
and industry-at-largeLevel playing field for wineries
Winery Obligations
Making good quality winesKnowing and following the
regulationsInternal process controlRecord keepingFees
Regulated termsWhat terms do we regulate?
- Niagara Peninsula Prince Edward County
- Lake Erie North Shore Ontario
- Sub-appellation terms Blanc De Noirs
- Meritage Late Harvest Wine
- Select/ Special Select Late Harvest Wine
- Vin Du Cure Icewine
- Icewine Dosage Dosage of Icewine
- Sparkling Icewine Estate Bottled
- Vineyard Botrytized
- Botrytis Affected (B.A.) Totally Botrytized
- Totally Botrytis Affected (T.B.A)
What does this mean in practice?• No use without approval, no variations, passing off
Scope of regulations
The “labelling” rules apply to all use of descriptors in association with the wine
This includes your shelf talker, neck tag, signage, advertising and website descriptions – that refer to a specific wine
Allows a general “we sell Icewine here” sticker at your cash but definitely not an Icewine sign in front of a display shelf with only table wines on it
Mandatory ContentFederal information:
alc./vol. - net contents - wine - Product of Canada - legal name, address of dealer – allergens (sulphites)
VQA information: Name of appellation Vintage (except Sparkling, Fortified) Others depend on wine category
Optional Content (category dependent)
Grape varietiesWine category (Late Harvest, Meritage,
Blanc de Noirs, Nouveau)Proprietary Name (your brand)Estate BottledVineyard NameMethod of Production (Mandatory for
Sparkling)
Principal Display Panel and Single Field of Vision Appellation must appear on principal display
panel at least 2 mm OR 3.2 mm if you leave the VQA logo off
Other info can appear anywhere (except top/bottom of container)
Federal rules require alc/vol, wine, product of Canada and net contents all in a “single field of vision”
VQA decides which panel is the PDP, the winery cannot choose to make the back label the PDP
Labelling - Origin The appellation on the front label must appear as:
VQA appellation name VQA
(same font, colour, typeface) No unregulated claim of origin can be made (e.g. you can’t
create your own appellation) No appellation terms can be used in back label copy or
elsewhere unless the wine qualifies NOT AT ALL - no matter what the context
No reference to location of winery using appellation name unless wine qualifies – postal address only in the form of an address
Component appellations can be described if exact percentage content is included – eg. 55% Lake Erie North Shore, 45% Prince Edward County
Labelling - OriginContent rules for appellation declaration:
Ontario (100% Ontario) Viticultural areas – Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie
North Shore, Prince Edward County (85% from stated area, rest from anywhere in Ontario)
Niagara on the Lake, Niagara Escarpment (85% from stated area, rest from Niagara)
Sub-appellations (100%) Vineyard designation (100%) Estate Bottled (100% grown, made, bottled)
Labelling - originCertain wines are not entitled to any
origin claim except Ontario Wines made from grapes grown outside of defined
viticultural areas Wines containing hybrid grapes (Vidal Icewine
exception) Charmat or Cuve Close sparkling wines Wines that do not meet required Brix
Do not refer to appellations on the labels of these wines
Do not use brand names that contain restricted terms
Varietal wines If a grape variety is mentioned anywhere on
the label, it is considered a varietal wineVarieties must be listed in order of
descending content If it does not meet single, dual, triple or multi
rules, percentages are required Acceptable variety names are specified
No abbreviations, number descriptors Descriptors generally allowed if they are
not confusing (oaked, reserve etc)
IcewineIcewine must appear on the labelVinifera or Vidal onlyCannot blend Vidal into vinifera unless
declared (eg. must be > 15% and labelled as a varietal wine)
Cannot mention Icewine on label of table wines if it used as a blending component
More rulesVariations of estate bottled are now
permitted but must be truthful and abide by same rules as estate bottled (“produced and bottled by”)
No closure can refer to VQAStatements made must be accurate
Harvest brix, RS, percentages Plan for this if you use generic back labels
The VQA logoOptional Gold on black only, minimum15 mm Secondary applications can be as small
as 10 mmOn any label, neck or shoulderSmaller size (10 mm) permitted for
bottles 250 mL and less
Wine Approvals
3 components: blind taste test, laboratory analysis and packaging review
Approx 1800 applications annually, overall success rate approximately 95%
Process Approvals – online application, samples to LCBO, payment
to VQAO, 2 – 3 weeks turnaround Wine is approved only when entire process is complete
and you see a checkmark under final status (Don’t release or sell if it is not approved)
Approval will not be processed without fee and label, mock ups and/or proofs are acceptable
If the labels are changed post approval, it is the wineries responsibility to ensure they comply
No need for two approvals for same wine with two labels (all labels should be uploaded)
Virtual wineries need to be registered with VQAO as an operating name (they are your responsibility under your manuf. licence and your VQA membership)
VQA Services - Wine Approvals System“WAS”
Filters – normally check all
Use filters and rows per page to manage what is displayed to you
Start a new application
Wine Approval Application - adding varietal components
Entering the components of your final blend
Confirm total quantity is correct
Wine Approval Application Upload your labels
PDF or JPEG formats acceptable
Get the proofs electronically from your designer/printer
Store them on your computer. Follow the easy wizard instructions.
Because of the volume – we do not upload labels for you. If you can email them to us then you have an electronic version to upload!
You can upload your labels later if they are not ready when you make the application.
Wine Approval Application Submitted – waiting on shipment
Information is in the system
LCBO is waiting for samples to arrive
This is the wine ID
Wine Approval In progress
Tasting is completed and passed
Lab analysis is completed and passed
Wine is not approved
Did you upload your label?
Did VQAO receive your payment?
Label review is pending
More information about your application
Taste and lab results added when completed
Label review usually last to be completed just before approval result finalized
Can edit only up to shipment received date
(call VQAO if changes needed after)
Forms&Reports:
•Reprint shipping form/invoice
•Cert of analysis once approved
•Cert of origin
Application in progress- check tasting result
If the wine did not pass, the reason for failure will be stated here.
Application in progress- check lab result
Typically only 3 tests are reported – alcohol, Free SO2, RS
If the wine did not pass, the failing analyte will be reported.
Small variances are granted eg.
52 ppm FSO2 will show as an X but the overall status will pass
Application - label review result
Federal violations are noted but do not cause a failure.
Routine conditions are noted but do not cause a failure
•No scale (font size not verified)
•VQA logo not submitted or shown in a black and white scan
THESE STILL NEED TO BE COMPLIANT on the final label.
This label failed.
In this case this is the reason.
Application almost complete
Not yet approved
Usually because
payment not received
If all 3 stages complete and not approved
– please call us
Wine is now approved
The winery (primary contact) will get an email notification telling you to logon and view completed application results
It is the same email pass or fail so don’t assume the wine is approved
Don’t forget to look at the label review page to see if there are any comments
Pre approval label reviewVQAO will review labels before the wine
is submitted as advice onlyLabels will not be “approved” before
wine is approved since this is contingent upon the label matching the wine, the alcohol, sweetness descriptors being correct, etc.
Common approval delays and label problemsNo labels have been uploaded or fee is not paid Samples sent to LCBO are not properly labelled
and have been sent to another departmentLabel does not match application or wine eg.
Alcohol inaccurate Appellation on label different than on application Varieties not in descending order Back label text refers to different appellation or to a
foreign appellation
Tips for approvals Make sure applications include:
Uploaded labels Payment Complete and correct information
“Rush” service can be arranged ($) Plan with VQAO in advance if there is time pressure
(such as Nouveau) or a large number of samples Tastings are twice weekly, none in December or on
statutory holidays (dates posted on VQA Services) Lab lineup is set weekly (no later than Wed pm) so
have your samples delivered by noon Wednesday If your wine arrives Thursday it will not have lab
results until two weeks following
Other things to knowApplications are purged after 12 months
if not completedApprovals expire after 12 months if not
bottledIndependent brix test and SETGO slip
required for all content in VQA winesTransfer rules for finished wine that is
purchasedLate Harvest registration by Nov 15Lapsed Memberships
Questions? Call usIf in doubt - call or email the VQAO
officeDo not rely on designers or others in
industry – they may be mistaken or the rules may have changed
Best practice – don’t print your labels before approval
Read over the VQA regulations (reg. 406) www.vqaontario.ca
Inspection and Compliance VQA Ontario is required to enforce
compliance with ActCompliance issues typically related to
label issues, selling without approvalInfractions noted through inspections
conducted by VQAO, through audit or by complaint
VQAO has police powers - right to enter, right to collect and compel information
PenaltiesApproval suspension/revocationProduct removal from all channels
(LCBO acts on our removal orders – this can be very expensive)
Compliance ordersCharges (fines up to $100,000 per
count)Membership suspension/revocationIt is far cheaper to comply
Avoid Violations
Don’t sell before approval -check the websiteCheck advertising, website, store signage
using VQA terms to make sure they are compliant and not misleading
File your reports and be prepared for your audit
Use a checklist to check label complianceRead the comments offered on labels – check
the website!
Where to look it up
Website www.vqaontario.ca/regulations/standards
Contact us
[email protected]@vqaontario.ca [email protected]