[Growwine] VQA

[CanadaVintage]

Have you watched the movie with Russell Crowe called "A good year"?

I like that the vingneron in the story tells the main character that in order to make exceptional wines, one must have an appreciation for the "terroir", harmony, climate, yada, yada, yada.  

Okay, great...but then he goes on to state the varieties grown in the vineyard are illegal....or at least among the legal varieties, illegal vines are grown to make a very mysterious vin de garage (very expensive) as opposed to the lousy stuff openly grown on the property.

Perhaps VQA will push wineries in this direction?

Anthony



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Terry Rayner 
  To: growwine at littlefatwino.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 2:40 PM
  Subject: Re: [Growwine] VQA


  Good Luck on this front Paul. I tried to "talk" to Laurie MacDonald (Execuitve Director, VQA Ontario) about sustainable viticulture about a year ago and here's a few  of her comments.

  "While there are some advantages available to VQA wines, these are at the discretion of government and not part of the appellation system that VQA Ontario operates. " 
  With regard to the grape varieties, the focus on vinifera is due to a number of factors including viability, international recognition, quality and the perception of what is acceptable globally as wine grapes for appellation wines.  Interspecific hybrids, particularly those with vitis labrusca parentage have been avoided because of character issues and their past reputation in Ontario wines.   

  There is a process for changing the regulations, including adding new grape varieties to the approved list.   The change is proposed by a member winery, and evaluated against three criteria - does it improve or maintain quality?, does it improve or maintain the credibility of VQA wines and the perception of quality?, and is it consistent with VQA Ontario's mission and strategic goals?  If the proposed change fulfills these criteria, it is assessed by a technical committee and goes to a consultation process.  In previous discussions about hybrid varieties, the majority of industry stakeholders have indicated that VQA should continue to encourage a vinifera based appellation system.   They include a number of wineries that produce grapes outside of DVAs, in central and eastern Ontario.  

  A few of the varieties you mention are currently permitted for blending into some VQA wines - Geisenheim, De Chaunac, Leon Millot and Vignoles.  These could be used in proportions up to 15%.   For the others, they would have to be produced as non-VQA wines."

  I did ask about many of the newer varieties coming out of Minnesota and she completely ignored that part of the conversation instead pointing to the limitations on the likes of Giesenheim, De Chaunac, Leon Millot and Vignoles.

  Terry

   

  ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Paul Bulas 
    To: growwine at littlefatwino.com 
    Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:58 PM
    Subject: Re: [Growwine] VQA


    How malleable or "up for discussion" are the terms of VQA?  How would one go about, for example, introducing new acceptable nomenclature or new-generation hardy grapes into the VQA fold?  Is that even possible -- or would a better solution be the establishment of a parallel designation system, albeit one that'd be wholly independent and separate?  


    ----- Original Message ----
    From: John Tummon <winemaker at kacaba.com>
    To: growwine at littlefatwino.com
    Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:39:56 PM
    Subject: [Growwine] VQA


    At Kacaba Vineyards, we are 100% VQA, but I still find it amazing that VQA can specify exactly what terms cannot be used on non-VQA wines. For example, you cannot use "Vineyard" or "Ontario" and there is a proposal to prohibit the use of "Grown, Produced and Bottled by". Complying with their label regulations has been challenging for us as well. 

    John  



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