Jancis Robinson

Canada: Wine laws

Appears in
Oxford Companion to Wine
Oxford Companion to Wine

By Jancis Robinson

Published 2006

  • About

Wine regulations vary from province to province. Most wine is retailed by provincial monopolies such as the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).

The Vintners Quality Alliance Act in Ontario and similar legislation in BC establishes the legal framework for an appellation of origin system as well as minimum standards that must be met in order to obtain VQA approval. Compliance with the standards is legally enforced in Ontario and BC.

Minimum must weights and limits to chaptalization are specified along with permitted grape varieties (not labrusca).