VINTNERS' QUALITY ALLIANCE (VQA)

An appellation of origin system that allows consumers to identify Canadian wines made from grapes grown in designated viticultural areas (DVA). In British Columbia, there are four DVAs including the Okanagan Valley.

In Canada, wines made from 100 per cent Canadian-grown grapes may carry the Vintners’ Quality Alliance (VQA) designation, provided they meet pre-determined standards for quality and undergo a rigorous certification process.

VQA Facts:

• The program began in Ontario in 1988 and moved west to British Columbia a year later.
• Wines with the VQA seal must be made from 100% Canadian grown grapes.
• A trained six-person panel blind-tastes each wine, screening out wines lacking varietal character or with obvious winemaking faults.
• Buying a wine with the VQA designation guarantees the authenticity of the wine and the absence of faults.

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