Wine Certification

Introduction

After 25 years of commercial viticulture, the Association des Vignerons du Québec (A.V.Q.) (Québec Association of Winegrowers), seeing this young industry coming out of adolescence and moving towards a safe and promising future, decides, in the spring of 2008, to implement a quality control program.

Since the beginning of the 1980s and, for almost three decades, we have been able to prove that vine was well - rooted in our Québec soil. It is here to stay, now forming part of our agricultural reality and our rural landscapes. After all these years, we can claim to have acquired precious knowledge, especially in know-how, obtained and developed from our errors but also from our many success stories.

If 30 years ago we were clearing the land, today we are reaping the fruits of determination, conviction and passion. In recent years, Québec wines have become prominent in provincial, national and international competitions, putting Québec on the global wine map.

In the spring of 2008, we formed a work group with the mission of finding and realizing the ideal tool to recognize the expertise of our fledgling industry. A year later, the certification program for Québec wine was taking off.

What is the “Certification des Vins du Québec”?

The name “Vin certifié du Québec” (Québec Certified Wine) is the result of a quality approach by the A.V.Q. This certification program has been developed to satisfy the expectations of consumers and professionals in the field. This is a quality approach, associated with a specific logo. Not wanting to copy off other wine-growing regions, but rather to set up an organization context that is well - suited to our realities, the book of specifications was produced in collaboration with a firm specialized in this area to ensure the reasons for each step in the process.

Objectives

• To be able to determine the high-quality standards and unique know-how of certified products, from the vine to the consumer.
• To ensure the origin of the wines (traceability).
• To ensure recognition of the specificity of our viticulture.

Main characteristics of the program

Sustainable viticulture

Sustainable viticulture is the application of the principles of sustainable development in grape-growing. Therefore, it means to ensure grape production by respecting ecological, economic and social boundaries that ensure the sustainability of this production over time (longevity).

An example: the integrated fight to control pests (screening and using less harmful products), to select production sites, to encourage good environmental practices and to monitor salubrity, safety and traceability. The respect of wine - growing standards contributes to the quality of the grapes and optimization of environmental respect.

Wine-making and crop growing

• Make sure of the grapes origin and quality of inputs, as well as the preservation of the intrinsic characteristics. Always monitor salubrity, safety and traceability.
• In addition to these requirements, the late - vintage wines, winter- vintage wines and ice wines comply with specific requirements as to the condition of the harvest and the exclusive origin of the natural sugars.

Wine bottling

• Monitor salubrity, safety, traceability and the quality of the inputs and the preservation of the intrinsic characteristics of the wine.
• Conduct chemical analyses to ensure that the finished product meets Canadian food standards.
• Conduct an organoleptic assessment to ensure that the wine complies with a defined quality standard.

Control plan

To ensure the impartiality of the certification program, the control of standard compliance has been entrusted to an external certification organization (certified in accordance to the ISO 65 Guide). The A.V.Q. has concluded an agreement with the “Concert “firm, a subsidiary of Écocert (biological culture) to ensure this control.

Stringent control measures allow exercising the follow-up of each step, starting with viticulture to wine -making, then to the complete ageing of products labelled “Vin Certifié du Québec.” Continuous traceability ensures identification and rigorous monitoring of wines. Moreover, with this thorough follow-up on the certified wines, the A.V.Q. becomes one of the most stringent Canadian leaders in monitoring.

In order to assure the efficiency of the control plan and book of specification, the certification of Québec wines is being pursued from the Conseil des Appellations Réservées et des Termes Valorisants (CARTV) which was set up by the Government of Québec on November 6, 2006.
www.cartvquebec.com

By initiating the certification of Québec wines, the A.V.Q. positions itself in environmental friendliness, authenticity and quality.

Don’t hesitate and put Québec into your wine glass.