Wine laws

Wine labels in Canada are enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which covers health standards, safety standards, food packaging, labelling and advertising.  There are three categories of Canadian-made or Canadian-bottled wine sold in Canada:

  • Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) certified
  • 100% Canadian Wine (Product of Canada)
  • International blends, made from imported and domestic content

Each of these three categories of wine must be labelled ensuring consumers are aware of the origin of the wine, including the product name, volume, alcohol content and origin.

Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Wines

There are two VQA systems in Canada: one in Ontario and the other in British Columbia.

Ontario’s VQA appellation system began in 1989 and was formalised in 1999 when production standards were proclaimed into law, through which VQA Ontario was made responsible for administration.

Ontario’s VQA system has designated 3 appellations, 2 regional appellations and 10 sub-appellations. These VQA are supported by strict standards to create consumer knowledge and trust. This is enhanced through a rigorous mandatory independent tasting panel which each VQA wine must go through before being certified as VQA.

Under VQA Ontario regulation, 100% of the grapes sourced to make the wine must be grown in Ontario.  If the label includes a stated appellation, regional appellation, varietal or year, 85% of the wine must be from that specific appellation, regional appellation, single varietal or vintage.  And finally, if there is a stated sub-appellation or vineyard on the bottle, 100% of the wine must be from that sub-appellation or vineyard.

The content rules for VQA Ontario labelling declarations are as follows:

Ontario (100% Ontario)

Appellations/ viticultural areas of Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore, Prince Edward County (85% from stated area, the rest can be from anywhere in Ontario)

Regional appellations of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Escarpment (85% from stated area, the remainder can be from elsewhere in Niagara)

Sub-appellation (100%)

Vineyard designation (100%)

Estate Bottled (100% grown, made, bottled)