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All About BC VQA Wines
Check out the featured BC VQA wines on display in stores each month. For the current BC VQA wines feature, click here (link to the Now In Stores section).
The wines of British Columbia are getting a lot of attention these days, winning prestigious awards and attracting international interest. The international wine community began to take notice when small BC wineries won top honours in competition with some of the world's leading wine producers. And, unlike many mass-produced, assembly line wines on the world market, our award winners are produced in boutique wineries and bottled in limited quantities.
Young by world standards, BC wines are especially fresh and unique. This youthfulness and freedom to experiment has attracted world-class talent to BC, including viticulturists and winemakers from around the globe.
The future of BC wines promises to be exciting and fruitful, due in part to the quality assurance system behind the VQA seal of approval, as well as the aforementioned talent in the vineyards and cellars.
What does the VQA seal on wine bottles mean?
The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) seal ensures that the bottle of BC wine you are enjoying is 100- BC grown and produced to optimum standards. And, since grapevines produce fruit that is characteristic of the region in which it is grown, your wine will express unique qualities that make BC wine special.
The British Columbia Wine Authority is responsible for ensuring that minimum standards are met for every wine that bears the VQA seal. This is achieved by:
| · | Performing audits at wineries and on individual bottles |
| · | Collecting laboratory samples from the wineries |
| · | Confirming that claims on labels such as region, vineyard, varietal and vintage are accurate |
| · | Tasting and evaluating wines to identify defects and to ensure quality of character |
| · | Setting standards for packaging and bottle closures |
The VQA seal also ensures that quality production standards are upheld. These include brix levels at harvest, oenological practices, additives, chaptilization level limits, the use of sweet reserve and fortification. Each of these standards is crucial in the production of quality wines, so look for the VQA seal in your next BC wine purchase.
Who is the BC Wine Institute?
Supporting the development of quality wines and quality wine tourism experiences is the British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI), the BC wine industry’s lead trade association. All BCWI members make Vintner’s Quality Alliance (VQA) wine, having passed a set of established standards. When consumers see VQA on a label, they know they are getting a premium, 100 percent BC wine approved by a VQA tasting panel. The BCWI is also responsible for marketing the Wine Regions of British Columbia brand, and their new website provides a list of member wineries, maps and directions, events, suggestions on wine pairings, and much more! Visit www.winebc.com for all the information.
Planning to visit a BC VQA winery?
Visit the BC Wine Institute's website at www.winebc.com for winery information, including wine route maps. Also, check out these website links:
Where to buy BC VQA wines?
For the best selection of VQA wines, shop at BC Liquor Stores where VQA knowledgeable staff will be able to help you with your selection. Most BC Liquor Stores have a VQA Wine Advocate on-staff who will be happy to assist you with your VQA wine purchase. To find out if your nearest BC Liquor Stores has a VQA advocate on staff, use our store locator (click here).
For more information about British Columbia VQA wines and wineries, please visit the BC Wine Institute website at www.winebc.com.
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All prices are subject to change without notice. Not all products shown are available at all BC Liquor Store locations.
Prices shown do not include container deposit cost where applicable.
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