Regardless of wanting like Canadian wines, a lot of your favorite inexpensive bottles or bag-in-a-box choices could also be blends of overseas and home wine.
Recognized within the business as Worldwide Home Blends, which may comprise as much as 75 per cent imported bulk wine, these cheap picks are sometimes labelled with the names of Canadian wineries, resembling Jackson-Triggs and Peller, therefore the shock for shoppers. Critics have lengthy contested such packaging is complicated by design.
It is advisable to search the label for the wine’s origin, acknowledged in small print as an “Worldwide mix from imported and home wines.” It’s a element many overlook or perceive as they choose wine from the shelf.
Wines produced from 100 per cent native grapes will characteristic the Vintners’ High quality Alliance (VQA) emblem or Product of Canada on its label. Labels made beneath the VQA regulatory and appellation methods, may additionally declare extra particular particulars of its origin, together with area, sub-appellation or particular winery identify relying on the sources of grapes.
Native wines are sometimes, however not at all times, shelved individually at liquor shops from overseas blends and different choices. However worldwide blends produced on this nation depend as native wines in gross sales classes captured by the LCBO and BCLDB.
Within the Ontario and British Columbia markets, provincially produced non-VQA labels, together with in worldwide blends and native wineries opting to work outdoors of the VQA rules, outsell regionally crafted wines.
Based on the Grape Growers of Ontario, the market share for wines gross sales in Ontario in 2024 was 54.3 per cent worldwide wines, 35.6 per cent Worldwide Home Blends and different, and 10.1 per cent VQA wines.
Wines of British Columbia figures state that British Columbia made non-VQA wine (principally worldwide blends) is the best-selling class within the province adopted by VQA wine, which accounts for greater than 19 per cent of the market (litre gross sales).
The number of Canadian and worldwide wine blends available on the market appeal to shopper curiosity on account of their cheap costs. That must be their promoting alternative, not that they’re camouflaged as native wines.
Now greater than ever, Canadians ought to know what they’re shopping for. If supporting native is vital to you, you’ll need to examine the label earlier than committing to buy.
