Canadian wine
[1] More than 90 per cent of Canadian icewines originates from Ontario,[3] although the product is also produced in British Columbia, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.
At the same time, there were significant improvements in wine-making technology, access to better grape varieties and disease-resistant clones, and systematic research into viticulture.
[citation needed] After the repeal of alcohol prohibition in Canada in 1927, provinces strictly limited the number of licences to produce wine.
Other growers found that high quality wines could be produced if Vitis vinifera vines were grown with reduced yields, new trellising techniques, and appropriate canopy management.
[citation needed] In 1988, three important events occurred: free trade with the United States, the establishment of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) standard, and a major grape vine replacement/upgrading program.
The VQA acts as the regulatory and appellation system that intends to ensure "high quality" and "authenticity of origin" for Canadian wines from the provinces of British Columbia, and Ontario.
[citation needed] During the 1990s, Canadian vintners continued to demonstrate that fine grape varieties in cooler growing conditions could potentially possess complex flavours, delicate yet persistent aromas, tightly focused structure and longer ageing potential than their counterparts in warmer growing regions of the world.
[6] Canadian wineries which existed in 1994 are allowed to import pre-fermented grape must from other countries, and use it to produce wine under their own brands.
Conversely British Columbia did not stipulate the use of local grapes in the production of its "International Domestic Blend" wines.
[7] In late 2009, local and international criticism of this practice and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) emerged.
Producers and growers in Canada have petitioned the government for several changes in the practices such as making the origin of grapes more clear on the wine label and increasing the visibility of 100 per cent Canadian wines produced by members of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) in province run liquor stores.
In 2016, the Canadian branch of Constellation Brands was acquired by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and renamed Arterra Wines Canada.
The largest export markets for Canadian wine are China, the United States, South Korea, the Netherlands, and Japan.
There are three VQA designated viticultural areas in Ontario, the Niagara Peninsula (which includes ten different sub-appellations), Prince Edward County, and the north shore of Lake Erie.
Vitis vinifera is the most common grapevine grown in Ontario-based vineyards, with a focus on cultivating Chardonnay, Riesling, pinot noir, and Cabernet Franc.
