[Growwine] VQA
Ryan Daum
ryan at darksleep.com
Wed Mar 19 21:57:55 EDT 2008
Silly question...
As grapes are a fruit, is there any reason why a winery growing
non-recognized grape varieties could not use QC certification?
(I see now that QC has a list of allowed fruits and grapes aren't in
it...)
Ryan
On Wed, 2008-03-19 at 21:16 -0400, Bert Andrews / Andrews Scenic Acres
wrote:
> BERT’S TWO CENTS WORTH
>
>
>
> VQA and QC (Quality Certified) indicate a level of quality. With QC
> wines they only indicate a level of quality as taste tested by the
> LCBO. In a perfect grape wine world, it would be the same. That is an
> expert grape wine tasting panel would blindly test grape wines to see
> if they meet a certain wine grape taste standard. This need not be
> rocket science.
>
> If this was followed, certain grape wine varieties would literally
> float to the top and be considered by most consumers as the cream of
> the grape varieties. All judgement would be based on the quality of
> the wine.
>
> The strongest talking point is that all VQA and QC wine is 100%
> Canadian. QC in Ontario is 100% Ontario. In most cases all QC wine
> comes from the same farm as ferments and sells it.
>
> We all know the comparison that a bottle of VQA or QC wine returns
> $4.29 to the Canadian economy whereas imported wine returns $0.56 to
> the Canadian economy.
>
> VQA and QC wine is as LOCAL, GREEN and LOCALLY BRANDED as it gets.
> When will the decision makers get it?
>
> If you have an opportunity to read the Spring 2008 edition of Canadian
> Grapes to Wine, please turn to page 31 as there is an article on Fruit
> Wines and issues facing that industry in Ontario. Thank you for your
> time.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bert Andrews
>
> Andrews' Scenic Acres
>
> # 9365, 10 Sideroad
>
> Milton, ON
>
> L9T 2X9
>
> Cell: 905-691-2672
>
> Farm: 905-878-5807
>
> Fax: 905-878-4997
>
> farm at andrewsscenicacres.com
>
> www.andrewsscenicacres.com
>
> www.scotchblockwinery.com
>
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> From:growwine-bounces at littlefatwino.com
> [mailto:growwine-bounces at littlefatwino.com] On Behalf Of melissa
> lounsbury
> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:42 AM
> To: growwine at littlefatwino.com
> Subject: Re: [Growwine] VQA
>
>
>
>
> You are right Paul.This is what I have said all along , an if you talk
> to the winery owners on the side this is why they glad for this puts a
> edge up on you before you start.Even the political people will say how
> they where lobbed to support this venture.How are things on the west
> coast paul.Iam glad that katelin Blush won a bronze . Have a good day.
> Maurice.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Paul Troop <paul at vivezza.com>
> To: growwine at littlefatwino.com
> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 12:13:54 AM
> Subject: Re: [Growwine] VQA
>
> The whole VQA story seems to be a case of some commodity wineries
> successfully lobbying the governments, first of Ontario and recently
> of BC, to entrench their (VQA owners) model of marketing through
> provincial legislation. While it is possible to support the VQA list
> at one level, steps need to be taking to protect the futuristic
> efforts of Artisan wineries in any jurisdiction --- regardless of what
> varieties they grow and make wine from.
>
>
>
>
> As a group, the Artisan wineries are going to need to challenge these
> rules as I suspect they will not withstand a court challenge.
>
>
>
>
>
> Talking about this in these forums is a good thing in a way, but
> action is required to ensure a bright future for those that are
> committed to the newer varieties that are coming from the progressive
> breeding programs around the world.
>
>
>
>
>
> Paul
>
> On 18-Mar-08, at 7:28 PM, mauro at ridgepointwines.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I am not sure why is there is so much focus on VQA. I have said it so
> many times. Prove your case with wine in the bottle. Win awards
> locally anad interenationally and then make your case to have the
> variety labelled as an approved variety.
>
> From a financial impact, VQA only matters if you plan to move a
> significant amount of wine through restaurants.
>
> If even your not making much money at the restaurant level you hope it
> drives people to the winery where your margins are best.
>
> I successfully had the VQA rules changed to include Nebbiolo as an
> approved variety.
>
> Most of the people outside of the Ontario DVa needs to focus on making
> good wine regardless of variety and stop viewing Niagara as the
> competition. Our competition is the rest of world, Australia, Chile
> Argentina and not ourselves.
>
> Everyday, I have to face being compared to hot climate growing areas
> and to countries who pay next to nothing for labour.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
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>
>
>
> Quoting Paul Bulas :
>
> Thanks for the informative reply Terry. Perhaps she skipped
> the Minnesota varieties because of the "international
> recognition" aspect. I don't doubt that by offering Riesling,
> Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernets, Pinot Noir, etc., Ontario can
> "speak the language" of the international wine scene; but at
> the same time I don't think that this alone should define
> the scope of the goal: namely, to build an indigenous wine
> culture in our continent akin to that which the Old World has
> historically had, albeit with grape varieties that actually
> work in our climatic conditions -- i.e. hardy and not
> requiring excessive chemical inputs.
>
>
>
>
>
> It seems to me that VQA is more business-oriented than
> viticulture-oriented, just going by the lack of interest thus
> far in the grapes that could conceivably form the backbone of
> that wider wine culture.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Terry Rayner
> To: growwine at littlefatwino.com
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 6:40:39 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 Ontarioâ
> €™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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
> Mauro Scarsellone
> Ridgepoint Wines
> 3900 Cherry Avenue
> Vineland, ON
> L0R 2C0
>
>
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