What is the Canadian Wine Library (CWL)?
The Canadian Wine Library (CWL) is a non-profit, revolving collection of the finest VQA and/or domestic wines grown and made in Canada. Each wine has been submitted and judged by a panel of professional tasters for their attributes of ageablity. We assess a wine’s potential ageability according to its level and balance of phenolics, anthocyanins, residual sugars, acidity, extract and alcohol as judged by a panel of experts.
The purpose of the collection is to educate winemakers as to how their wines are evolving; to educate consumers as to how they can expect Canada’s wines within the collection to age; and to serve as a resource for on-going research in such areas as sensory evaluation, vintage variations and stylistic changes over time.
Where is the collection housed?
The CWL was established in 1988 by a club of local wine enthusiasts kept in the cellar of one of the members. When Brock University’s Inniskillin Hall opened in 1998, the growing collection was moved to the beautiful new cellar where the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) was located. The administration of the library was transferred to Brock University by 2008. The collection is housed in CCOVI’s wine cellar that guarantees constant optimal cellaring conditions and a security-monitored system. Temperature and humidity controls have been designed into the facility, along with a special tasting room, racking systems and a computerized system for cellaring, retrieval and releasing wines for assessment.
How is the CWL governed?
The CWL is governed by a Board of Directors whose mandate is outlined in its By-Laws and Terms of Reference (link needed to TofR). Each member serves for a renewable term of three years. Through the Standing Committee on Wine Collection, an annual formal blind tasting is held at which time submitted wines are tasted according to criteria of ageablity. At other times of the year wines are admitted if three or more Directors support the submission. The Standing Committee must approve all requests for releases.
All wines are held for a minimum of three years following vintage date, or longer at the winery’s specification, and then released.
Who owns the wines?
All wines are held in trust by Brock University and overseen by the CWL Board of Directors.
Why are the wines released and how?
Wines can be released on request after a determination is made by the Standing Committee. It determines whether the reasons for the request are sound and whether the tasters or researchers requesting the wines are capable of assessing the wines responsibly. The wines are released for a small fee (See Wine Request Form) to cover administrative and shipping costs. The responsibility of the tasting group is to fill out the tasting form for each wine and submit it electronically back to the CWL. The results of the tasting assessments are then recorded for continued reference. The results are also sent to the winemaker whose wine has been assessed. The responsibility of the researcher is to submit the results of his or her research back to the CWL for dissemination.
Who does the work of administrating the collection?
A Managing Director of the CWL is appointed by CCOVI who manages the day-to-day operations of the collection.
What are some of the features of the library itself?
This beautiful cellar was designed by Toronto architect Tony Manzini in conjunction with John Nadeau then the Wine Establishment in Toronto. The 44,000-bottle cellar is divided into various parts: the CWL, student made wines, Professional & Continuing Studies, Research wines, OEVI Program wines and various collections. The capacity of the CWL portion of the cellar is 19,000 bottles which also includes student made wines and professional and continuing education wines. The remaining 24,000-bottle section of the cellar is the Research wines, used by CCOVI faculty and students to store. It cost $400,000 to build which included shelving systems, security, humidity and temperature control systems. The Board of Directors of the CWL joined forces with the Capital Fund-raising Campaign for Inniskillin Hall to successfully raise money to help construct the cellar.
How secure is the cellar?
The cellar is monitored 24-hours a day by campus security.
