Ontario VQA Vintage Chart 2002-1993

By Konrad Ejbich   © 2003

This chart provides ratings for Ontario wines from 1993 to 2003 based on drinkability and how well specific varieties of grapes performed.

Quick Reference Chart
Wine Type 2002 2001
ALB		 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
Ontario Reds 82A 79B 73C 80C 90C 77D 61D 88C 73E 75E
Ontario Whites 82A 78B 81B 78C 80C 81D 71D 81E 78E 74E

Red Wines
Red Varieties 2002 2001
ALB		 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
Baco Noir 80A 75B 73C 80C 85D 75D 73E 80D 73E 78E
Cabernet Franc 83A 80A 72B 79B 90B 76C 58D 87C 71D 64E
Cabernet Sauvignon 83A 83A 69B 81D 91B 75C 51E 90C 70E 71D
Gamay 81B 79B 77C 78D 90D 80D 62E 83E 73E 71E
Marechal Foch 77B 73B 63C 77C 80D 70D 70E 70E 75E 92E
Merlot 86A 83B 75B 86B 92B 80C 58E 93C 75D 69E
Pinot Noir 79A 78B 78B 77C 86C 72D 75D 87D 82D 73E
Zweigelt 85A 83B 79C 78D 78D 72E 70E 58E --- ---

White Wines
Wite Varieties 2002 2001
ALB		 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
Chardonnay 85A 80B 83B 81C 85C 84D 69E 82D 81E 64E
Gewürztraminer 82B 82C 80C 79C 80D 82D 74E 78E 74E 64E
Pinot Gris 80B 70C 80C 77D 75D 80E 69E 78E 63E 57E
Riesling (Dry) 76B 76B 84B 79C 79C 84C 79E 81D 77D 67E
Sauvignon Blanc 77B 81C 78C 76D 79D 75E 55E 79E 61E 64E
Viognier 93C 80C 80D 77D 80E --- --- --- --- ---
Riesling Icewine 86A 84B 90B 88C 91B 87C 84D 90C 85D 90C
Vidal Icewine 86A 71C 92B 87B 86C 78C 76D 73D 79C 78D

Rating System
Vintage Quality     Current Drinkability
0 = worst

100 = best		   A = still needs more age
  B = can be drunk now but will improve
  C = at its peak
  D = should be drunk soon
  E = probably over the hill
ALB = some wines may be affected by Asian Lady Bug taint

About the 2003 Ontario VQA Vintage Chart

Every commercial winery which owns or controls vineyards in Ontario was asked to rate its own wines according to two criteria. These were: "How well did specific grape varieties perform in each of the years listed?" and "How ready and drinkable are the wines made from those varieties today?"

This ratings on this vintage chart reflect information gathered solely from these wine producers, ie. the "vinsiders". And thanks to the wide range of large and small wineries that returned the survey, it was possible to come up with truly representative averages for each grape variety.

Vintages have been given a numerical rating from 1 to 100. (I'd say anything with a score of 80 or over is a safe buy.) The letters A through E indicate the drinkability of each variety during the next year or so.

As with every other vintage chart, I would strongly encourage you to see mine as a starting point rather than as the final word. After all, these are only averages. There are always winemakers capable of overcoming the challenges of a lousy harvest by making decent wine, and there are bumblers who occasionally turn the best grapes into dreck.

You can figure that regular use of the vintage chart will increase your chances of buying a decent wine to 98.7 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

~ Konrad Ejbich