As Ontario’s wine authority, Ontario Wine Appellation Authority (OWAA) is the regulatory agency responsible for maintaining the integrity of regional wine appellations and enforcing winemaking and labelling standards in the province.

Incorporated in 1998 to implement the Vintners Quality Alliance Act, 1999 (VQA Act), OWAA regulates the “appellation of origin” system that governs the composition, standards and labelling of Ontario wines of origin. OWAA maintains consumer trust and the integrity of local wine appellations by enforcing winemaking and labelling standards and educating consumers about the authenticity of appellation.

OWAA’s core mandate includes the following operating objectives:

• Establish, monitor and enforce an appellation of origin system in accordance with the VQA Act that allows consumers to identify wines on the basis of where the grapes are grown, the methods used in making the wine and other quality standards. ...