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We’ve always known that there’s something special about Ontario — from our exceptional VQA wines to the fresh produce and thoughtfully made, local ingredients that reflect the heart of our communities. More and more, people are seeking out quality, sustainability and products with a story. It’s an exciting time to explore what’s made right here at home — and to discover just how rewarding it can be to support local.
Maple leaves dotted around grocery stores and an influx of labelling that ranges from "Made in Canada" to "Designed in Canada" can be confusing, but there are certain certifications that always stand for Ontario-made quality, like VQA wines. Whenever you choose a VQA wine, you're buying a product that's 100 per cent Ontario-grown and crafted. It supports local winemakers, farmers, restaurants and retailers, which supports the local community and keeps our hard-earned Ontario dollars within our own economy.
You'll find 194 VQA certified wineries spread across Ontario, but clustered in three major, distinct regions: the Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County and Lake Erie North Shore. All brimming with natural beauty and splendour, these areas of Ontario are ripe for discovery and so are their many wineries. Each one has its own story and its own people who put their hearts and souls into crafting the incredible range of wine available in the province. Many Ontario VQA wines are small-batch and are not available on LCBO shelves, which makes winery-only bottles even more exclusive and exciting to discover. Your new favourite wine could be just a winery visit (or an online order) away.
Ontario’s cool climate produces wines with bright acidity, elegance and complexity — qualities that shine in the 10 hero varieties and styles of VQA wines, and rival top international regions. Riesling, pinot grigio/gris, chardonnay, cabernet franc, pinot noir, gamay, baco noir, cabernet merlot, sparkling and rosé are all crafted exceptionally well in Ontario.
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5 signature styles of VQA Ontario wine
VQA Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the most widely produced variety in Ontario — and for good reason. Known for its richness and structure, Ontario chardonnay often showcases apple, pear and peach on the nose, and thanks to the region’s natural acidity, it tends to age gracefully. A chardonnay aged in oak will have added layers of wood spice, smokiness and vanilla or butterscotch.
VQA Riesling
Ranging from dry and off-dry to sweet styles and even Icewine, Ontario VQA riesling leans towards a more classic Germanic character. Acidity is usually accompanied by refreshing citrus, peach or floral aromas with a light "petrol" note. Ontario VQA riesling is vibrant and approachable when young, yet develops beautifully with age.
VQA Pinot Noir
Ontario pinot noir is full of cherry, oak spice and earthy flavours. It becomes silky smooth with a little aging.
VQA Cabernet Franc
In Ontario, you'll see cabernet franc made into easy drinking unoaked styles; produced in more structured, cellar-worthy expressions; blended with merlot and cabernet sauvignon; and even made into Icewine. On its own, it shows red currant, raspberry, herbal and tobacco notes, while oak aging adds a toasty, chocolaty complexity.
VQA Sparkling
Ontario VQA bubbly comes in a range of incredibly versatile styles, from dry or "brut," to sweet or "demi-sec." Traditional method rivals champagne, while charmat is reminiscent of prosecco, and Ontario produces both incredibly well and at a fraction of the cost of their European counterparts. The cool climate and limestone-rich soil in Ontario creates some of the best sparkling wines in the world — and you can pair them with anything.
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There's never been a better time to vote with our dollars and support local at every opportunity. When you're shopping at LCBO or your local bottle shop, or while you're wine touring this spring and summer, look for the VQA letters or logo to find a bottle that's 100 per cent Ontario-made. You're likely to find something you love, all while putting dollars back into the pockets of Ontarians. Win-win.
