Industry Overview

• Ontario is the country’s leading grape producer, accounting for about 71% of Canadian production.
• The Niagara Peninsula accounts for over 90% of Ontario's grape-growing volume.
• Grapes are the highest-ranked Ontario agricultural commodity, and represent 35% of the farm value of Ontario commercial fruit.
• The total farm gate value of Ontario grapes exceeded $69 million in 2010.
• In 2010, the total number of grape vines in Ontario exceeded 15 million.
• In 2010, winemaking was the dominant use for Ontario grapes. Over 95% of production was used for wine products and under 5% for juice, jams and other grape products.

Economic Impact

• The wine industry generates $533 million in retail sales in Ontario (2010).
• The grape and wine sector generates approximately 7,000 jobs in Ontario.
• It generates more than $100 million in direct wages and salaries.
• In 2007, the wine industry generated $529 million in tax revenues for the province.
• A litre of VQA wine generates $11.50 of economic impact in Ontario vs. $0.67 for a litre of imported wine.
• Each acre of grapes generates $30,945 to the province of Ontario in economic value per year.
• As a tourism destination, Niagara attracts nearly 20 million visitors annually; over 1 million people visit the province’s wineries each year.
• Grape production enhances the environmental beauty of the province and preserves our rich agricultural heritage. This is priceless.