Sparkling wines have a storied history in the region of Champagne, France, but Ontario experts indicate a modern-day renaissance is happening in Niagara.

That was the message delivered by an invite-only crowd of industry professionals — from LCBO product consultants to wine writers, educators and sommeliers — who came together June 5 at Brock University to explore sparkling wines alongside the winemakers who made them.

The annual Experts Tasting at Brock University featured the presentation of VQA Promoters Awards designed to recognized individuals who consistently promote VQA wines through education and promotion. From left are Angie Jewell and MJ Macdonald, The Cellar Sisters and co-owners of Decanter (Hospitality category); Ed Haddon, Head Sommelier at Foreign Affair Winery (Retail category); and Allison Findlay, Head Winemaker at Niagara College’s Teaching Winery (Education category).

Presented by Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the sparkling wine-themed 2025 Experts Tasting coincided with the 25th anniversary of the University’s Applied Grape and Wine Science (OEVI) program — the only one of its kind in Canada.

“Our vineyards are ideally suited to this style of wine,” said Rob Power (OEVI ’00), Head Winemaker at Creekside Estate Winery, a member of the event’s judging panel and a student from the first OEVI graduating class in 2000.

For a sparkling wine to be a good bubbly, grapes need to produce a minimum amount of sugar to make the base wine, he said. That wine is then put through a secondary fermentation to make it a sparkling wine.

Niagara’s climate is perfect for this process, Power said.

“We don’t have too much heat at the wrong time of the year and sugars don’t run away on us,” he said.  “The result is wonderful sparkling wines.”

With more than 120 experts in the room, five rounds (known as flights) and seven wines per flight, it translated to more than 4,000 glasses being poured of more than 30 sparkling offerings from select wineries.

Experts Tasting is an impactful industry event because it provides tools to people who promote and educate on Ontario VQA wine who then bring that knowledge to the public, said event Manager Barb Tatarnic.

Senses were sparkling at the 2025 Experts Tasting hosted by the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) at Brock University June 5. The event saw more than 120 experts in the room with more than 4,000 glasses of wine being poured from more than 30 sparkling wines from select Ontario wineries.

“Since taking the event over in 1997, we strive to take a deep dive into the theme with educational speakers and judged wines that won their spot at the tasting. This key learning opportunity encourages everyone to confidently share their knowledge in promotion of Ontario wines,” she said.

The day was opened by Brock Acting Vice-President, Research Michelle McGinn, who noted the importance of the tasting to the Ontario wine industry.

“I’m happy to see in our midst wine media, the LCBO’s Customer Engagement Group and its product consultants, sommeliers and wine educators,” she said. “You are the wine industry’s front line.”

McGinn noted that hosting the event just steps from CCOVI’s research facilities and amongst current and past students of the OEVI program fills her with a sense of pride. She reinforced how important the partnership between industry and Brock is to the future of winemaking in Canada.

“Undergraduate and graduate students receive training with almost 12 full months of hands-on industry experience gained through co-op work terms,” she said.

“This combination of studies and applied knowledge has resulted in a job placement rate of more than 95 per cent. Our graduates are now located across Canada, the United States and viticulture regions around the world.”