Important: This version of the e-Laws website will be upgraded to a new version in the coming weeks.
You can try the beta version of the new e-Laws at ontario.ca/laws-beta.
O. Reg. 659/00: CONTENT OF WINE
under Wine Content and Labelling Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 26, Sched. P
Skip to contentWine Content And Labelling Act, 2000
CONTENT OF WINE
Historical version for the period November 8, 2021 to November 28, 2021.
Note: This Regulation is revoked on November 29, 2021, the day section 86 of Schedule 22 (Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019) to the Plan to Build Ontario Together Act, 2019 comes into force. (See: O. Reg. 757/21, s. 1)
Last amendment: 757/21.
Legislative History: 382/03, 515/05, 438/09, 81/11, 230/15, CTR 15 JL 16 - 5, 757/21.
This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.
1. In this Regulation,
“domestic” means originating in Canada;
“fortified wine” means wine having an alcohol content of more than 14.9 per cent but less than 20 per cent by volume that is made by adding to wine or grape product in fermentation brandy or fruit spirit, or alcohol derived from alcoholic fermentation of a food source that is distilled to not less than 94 per cent alcohol by volume;
“imported” means originating outside Canada;
“light wine” means wine having an alcohol content of more than 6.5 per cent but less than 8.5 per cent by volume. O. Reg. 659/00, s. 1; O. Reg. 230/15, s. 1.
2. (1) A winery that uses imported grapes or grape product in the manufacture of wine shall do so in combination with grapes grown in Ontario or grape product produced from such grapes. O. Reg. 659/00, s. 2 (1).
(1.1) A winery that uses imported grapes or grape product in the manufacture of wine shall, in manufacturing all such wine during any of the following periods, use an average of 40 per cent or more of grapes grown in Ontario or grape product produced from such grapes to which no water has been added at any time, for wine that is packaged on or after September 1, 2010 and that is not Vintners Quality Alliance wine as defined in the Vintners Quality Alliance Act, 1999:
1. The period from September 1, 2010 to March 31, 2012.
2. The period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.
3. The period from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. O. Reg. 81/11, s. 2.
(2) A bottle of a wine that is manufactured by combining grapes grown in Ontario, grape product produced from such grapes, other domestic grapes or grape product with imported grapes or grape product shall consist of no less than,
(a) 30 per cent of grapes grown in Ontario or grape product produced from such grapes to which no water has been added at any time, if the wine is packaged on or after the day Ontario Regulation 438/09 comes into force and before September 1, 2010; or
(b) 25 per cent of grapes grown in Ontario or grape product produced from such grapes to which no water has been added at any time, if the wine is packaged on or after September 1, 2010. O. Reg. 438/09, s. 1 (2).
(2.1) Despite subsection (2), the minimum requirement set out in that subsection is reduced to 10 per cent grapes grown in Ontario or grape product produced from such grapes to which no water has been added at any time in the case of wine that is packaged on or after the day Ontario Regulation 382/03 comes into force and before February 1, 2005. O. Reg. 382/03, s. 1 (1).
(2.2) Despite subsection (2), the minimum requirement set out in that subsection is reduced to 1 per cent grapes grown in Ontario or grape product produced from such grapes to which no water has been added at any time in the case of wine that is packaged on or after the day Ontario Regulation 515/05 comes into force and before February 1, 2007. O. Reg. 515/05, s. 1 (1).
(2.3) In subsection (3),
“year” means the 12-month period from September 1 to August 31. O. Reg. 230/15, s. 2.
(3) If a winery meets or exceeds the minimum requirements set out in subsection (2), the winery may add water to the grapes from which the balance of the wine is derived as long as the volume of the balance of the wine as measured on November 30 in the year the wine is manufactured is no more than 902 litres per one tonne of grapes. O. Reg. 659/00, s. 2 (3); O. Reg. 382/03, s. 1 (2); O. Reg. 515/05, s. 1 (2); O. Reg. 438/09, s. 1 (3).
(4) No labrusca grapes or grape product derived from such grapes shall be used in the manufacture of wine except for light wine and fortified wine. O. Reg. 659/00, s. 2 (4).
(5) Despite subsection (2), a winery may sell and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario may purchase and sell wines processed, blended, finished or packaged before January 1, 2001 that consist of no less than 25 per cent grapes grown in Ontario or grape product produced from such grapes. O. Reg. 659/00, s. 2 (5).
3. (1) A winery that uses imported grapes or grape product in the manufacture of wine shall make, keep and immediately submit to the Registrar of Alcohol, Gaming and Racing upon request,
(a) a record of the quantity of grapes grown in Ontario, grape product produced from such grapes, other domestic grapes and grape product from such domestic grapes acquired by the winery and the times of acquisition;
(b) a copy of each order that the winery has placed for imported grapes or grape product, along with the customs declaration and bill of lading relating to the order;
(c) tank records and racking orders for all brands of wine that set out a complete processing record up to and including packaging; and
(d) transfer records that describe the movement of bulk or cased wine between wineries, including dates and details of varieties and quantities. O. Reg. 659/00, s. 3 (1); O. Reg. 81/11, s. 3.
(2) If a winery does not use racking orders, it may submit a day book that indicates the quantities of wine processed and bottled instead of the tank records and racking orders. O. Reg. 659/00, s. 3 (2).
(3) The records referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall be kept for two years after being made. O. Reg. 659/00, s. 3 (3).