What We Do

The Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) and its predecessor, the Canadian Wine Institute (CWI), have enjoyed several successes on behalf of their members with respect to regulatory, trade, and other issues. The following is indicative of these successes and reflects some current CVA priorities. It is what we do.

National Wine Standards - The CWI led the process that developed the first Canadian national quality standard for wine in 1996 and the CVA is continuing to work closely with federal, provincial, and industry authorities in seeking further quality standards for wine that would bring even greater consumer benefit, and that would be enforceable across the country and internationally.

Labelling - The CVA continues to work closely with its members in advocating labelling regulations that are fully transparent and informative for the consumer, while being commercially acceptable to the wine industry.

Wine and Health - The CWI / CVA has cooperated closely with researchers and provided financial support for cancer research, and has participated in wine and health symposia in Canada and internationally that have helped to increase consumer awareness of the health benefits of responsible wine consumption.

Health Warning Labels - The CVA continues to consult closely with federal health officials, members of parliament and others with regard to the movement by some to impose Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) related health warning labels on all alcoholic beverages. The Canadian Vintners Association is of the view that such labelling is neither targeted nor proven effective in those jurisdictions in which such labelling has been in effect. The CVA is seeking alternate means of assisting health authorities in reducing the incidence of FAS.

Domestic Market Support - The CWI / CVA coordinated Government of Canada contributions through the Canadian Wine Market Development Program over the past 12 years. This program contributed over 4.5 million dollars to Canadian wineries in assisting them to adjust to the complete opening of the domestic market to imports. The program terminated on March 31, 2001.

Government of Canada Wine Promotion Activities - The CVA has been actively involved on a number of fronts to promote and encourage the use of Canadian wine by all Government of Canada departments and agencies. We are working in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Team Canada, the Parliamentary Restaurant, and the Office of the Governor General, to ensure that Canadian wine is served at all government-sponsored hospitality events. To achieve this end, we have organized a series of tastings of CVA members' wines for key Government decision-makers, and are working towards putting mechanisms in place which would facilitate ordering of Canadian wines by Canadian embassies and consulates abroad, as well as by foreign diplomats resident in Canada.

International Markets - The CVA coordinates with its members an annual export strategy for Canadian wine. Such strategies receive financial support from the federal Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the industry has been successful in obtaining over two million dollars in such export funding from the federal government over the past few years.

International Icewine Standard - The CWI initiated and reached agreement with Germany and Austria on an International Icewine Standard in 2000. This standard among the three countries played a fundamental role in enhancing Canada’s terms of access to the European Union, and has the potential to continue to play a crucial role in promoting and protecting true Icewine.

Trade with the European Union - The CWI / CVA worked closely with Canadian and European Union officials in advocating trade policies that, in the end, have permitted access to the European Union for Icewine, previously denied and lifted the quota for exports of Canadian table wines to that market.

World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) - The CWI was a founder of the World Wine Trade Group (formerly NWWP - New World Wine Producers) that brings together government and industry representatives from Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico. This group is dedicated to enhancing international trade in wine and has the promise of reducing trade barriers and improving access and acceptance of Canadian wine in international markets. Canada hosted this group in December 2001.

Taxation - The CWI worked closely with the Federal Government to bring about considerable changes to the Excise Act that will ultimately ease the administrative burden on Canadian vintners, have a positive effect on their bottom lines and impose some greater control on the untaxed market.

Package Sizes - The CWI successfully opposed deregulation of wine package sizes which saved the industry considerable expense and ensured a welcome discipline in Canadian wine packaging.