Ontario Wine Industry: Leaders in Agri-Food Innovation

Wine Council of Ontario and four Ontario wineries receive Premier's Award

VINELAND STATION, ON, Aug. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario's VQA wine industry - which includes those wines that contain only locally-grown grapes with no foreign blends - continues to foster innovation in Ontario's Agri-Food sector. The Wine Council of Ontario, along with Burning Kiln Winery, Pillitteri Estates Winery, Puddicombe Estate Farm and Winery, and Southbrook Winery were each one of the 50 recipients of the provincial Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.

"This prestigious award recognizes the success of Ontario's rural communities, farms and food processing sectors. Their innovations improve existing products, create jobs and drive economic growth and we are proud that the Wine Council of Ontario, along with four Ontario wineries have been recognized for their contribution to our province's important Agri-Food sector," said Ed Madronich, Chair of the Wine Council of Ontario and President of Flat Rock Cellars.

The Wine Council of Ontario was recognized by the Premier for the development and implementation of Sustainable Winemaking Ontario, a self-auditing environmental charter for the Ontario wine industry. By providing tools to wineries to allow for constant improvement, education and tools to track water usage, wastewater levels, waste levels and energy usage, Ontario wineries are able to make operational changes for their business and environmental impact. Launched in 2007, it was the first industry wide sustainability initiative in the Canadian wine industry.

"Ontario wineries are leaders in sustainable practices with many following organic, bio-dynamic and innovative environmental practices like our Sustainable Winemaking Ontario program," said Ed Madronich. "With this proactive approach, we are ensuring the sustainability of Ontario's local wine industry."

Ontario's VQA wine industry creates jobs in manufacturing, construction and tourism - all the while preserving high-value agriculture in Ontario's Greenbelt and contributing a set of steadily rising economic benefits to the entire province. Since 2007, few other industries can make the same claim.

The Wine Council of Ontario (WCO) is the champion of Ontario's high quality, authentically local Vintner's Quality Alliance (VQA) wines and of promoting wine country as a destination. As a non-profit trade association, WCO represents 80-plus wineries from across the designated viticulture areas of the province: Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County, Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island. Our members are grape growers, manufacturers and leaders in tourism in their communities. We are the future of Ontario's wine industry, which is a source of new investment, jobs and award-winning wines. The Wine Council of Ontario's role is to promote Ontario VQA wines and vintners, support the production of excellent local wines valued at home and abroad, and build on the substantial economic benefits that the VQA wine industry brings to the province. Authentically local VQA wine is made without imported grapes. The Wine Council of Ontario promotes the unique qualities of Ontario's locally grown wines through its consumer facing brand Wine Country Ontario.

SOURCE: Wine Council of Ontario

or to request an interview, please contact:

Magdalena Kaiser-Smit, Director of Public Relations
Wine Council of Ontario
905.684.8070 ext 228 or 905-246-1922
[email protected]