Vintages New Release – September 13, 2025

The Vintners Quality Alliance Act

The VQA began in 1988 as a volunteer initiative spearheaded by a small group of producers committed to crafting serious wines of provenance using only 100% locally grown grapes and adhering to rigorous production standards. The VQA Act became law in 1999 and came into effect on June 29, 2000, bringing government regulation, independent oversight, and more consistent enforcement. By March 31, 2001, there were 50 registered wineries and 429 wine approvals had been issued. Today, over 1,500 wines from 194 wineries are approved each year. Though the original regulations were written by Len Pennachetti and Don Ziraldo in the late 1980s, the very first VQA wine approval issued under the official government seal came on July 10, 2000, and was awarded to the Daniel Lenko Wines Vidal Icewine 1999. The 1999 vintages of the three wines featured on the next page were among the first approved in Ontario, between July and September of 2000. Cave Spring was founded in 1986, but began in 1978 when John T. Pennachetti and his son Leonard (Len) planted some of the first vinifera vines in the Niagara Peninsula, including Riesling sourced from Germany. Len, a co-founder and former chair of the VQA, was awarded the Order of Canada in 2020 for his contributions to the wine industry. “Before VQA, the idea of the Niagara Peninsula as a globally recognized wine region was an aspiration in the minds of a few visionaries. Decades later, VQA allows our wines to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best,” says Len.

The barn at Cave Spring is a popular spot for weddings. ABOVE, FROM LEFT: Tom and Len Pennachetti.

VINTAGES 7