Local MPP promotes Buy Local Challenge
Contest to increase restaurants showcasing Ontario VQA wine
Brockville – Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman is calling on the community to help him win a provincial contest aimed at recognizing restaurants who support Ontario VQA wines.
Ontario Wine Secretariat Chair Jim Bradley recently launched the “MPP Restaurant Challenge” – a program that calls for Members of Provincial Parliament to compete to see who can be the most successful at increasing the number of VQA Restaurant Award winners in their community.
Runciman is a longtime supporter of the Ontario Wine Industry and as Consumer Minister led a trade delegation to Europe that resulted in Ontario wines being sold in European Union countries.
"We make some of the best wine in the world right here in Ontario and more people want to be able to enjoy that wine in their local restaurants,” said Runciman.
“I think it is very important that we are always “thinking local” when making purchasing decisions and the Ontario wine industry wants to recognize those who are already doing so,” added Runciman.
MPP Runciman will be calling on local restaurants to encourage them to apply for the award and is also asking the community to tell him about local restaurants that might be good candidates for the award program. The public can email suggestions to rwrunciman@brockville.com
Each year, the Wine Council of Ontario (WCO) accepts applications from restaurants to be considered for an award for their representation of Ontario VQA wine. Last year, 91 restaurants received the award and the goal this year is to increase that to 120. Winners benefit from free promotional opportunities and receive a framed certificate.
The “MPP Restaurant Challenge” will call for each member to try to encourage as many restaurants as possible to apply for the award. The MPP who has the most award winners in his riding by May 21 will be designated the winner. There will be a second category recognizing the MPP and community that has the most new award winners.
“There is already a great list of restaurants who are award winners but we know there are many more out there and we want to make sure they are recognized. The MPP challenge can help spread the word as well as educate others about our food friendly VQA wines,” said Norm Beal, WCO Chair. In order for a wine to have VQA on its label, it must be produced with 100 per cent Ontario grapes.
Mark Moffatt, General Manager and Sommelier at Chez Victor in Hotel Germain in Toronto said “the MPP Challenge is a brilliant idea to increase the presence of great local wines at restaurants in the province. At Chez Victor we are proud to serve a wide range of premium VQA wines.”
The Wine Council of Ontario is a non-profit trade association that represents Ontario’s four wine regions – Niagara Peninsula, Pelee Island, Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward Country. These regions grow 75 per cent of the grapes used in Canadian wine production. Log on to www.winesofontario.ca for more information.
