Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute

02/06/2026

Thank you Spill The Wine Podcast for allowing us to share part of our story on your podcast! The winner of this contest is in for a real treat.

02/04/2026

The CCOVI Lecture Series continues today with Brock Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies Michael Ripmeester and grad student Sara Murdoch. Their topic: Motivations and Expectations: A Geodemographic Analysis of Wine Club Members

Join us today at 1 pm at Brock or via livestream. To attend in person go to Room H313 in the MacKenzie Chown complex. To watch online visit: https://stream.lifesizecloud.com/extension/24574779/bd502fa6-dae7-4032-806d-0200305f8315

British Columbia Grapegrowers' AssociationVins du Québec Grape Growers of Ontario Wines of Nova Scotia

01/28/2026

The CCOVI Lecture Series continues today with our very own Dr. Jennifer Kelly. Dr. Kelly is CCOVI"s Senior Scientist of Oenology and will present her latest research on low alcohol wines!

Dr. Kelly works directly with industry on priority issues, drawing on her experience in practical winemaking from time at commercial wineries in Ontario and the Barossa Valley, South Australia as well as her research expertise.

She is a member of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Standards Development Committee, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention oenology session co-chair, committees for the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration education committee, and the CCOVI outreach committee.

Join us today in person at 1 p.m. in the Mackenzie Chown complex in Room H313. Or watch the lecture online at: https://tinyurl.com/4utkw7hm

Grape Growers of Ontario Wines of Ontario British Columbia Grapegrowers' Association Vins du Québec Wines of Nova Scotia

01/21/2026

Our weekly lecture series continues today Jan. 21. Join us in person in Room H313 of the Mackenzie Chown Complex at 1 PM or via livestream.

Dr. Malkie Spodek, CCOVI’s Senior Scientist in Entomology, and an Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Biological Sciences at Brock University will present: Pheromone lures: their roles in vineyard insect pest management.

Malkie is an entomologist with recognized expertise in systematics, biosecurity, biological control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in agricultural systems. For more information visit brocku.ca/ccovi/outreach/lecture

01/09/2026

The CCOVI Lecture Series is back! Established in 2007, this highly anticipated weekly series features presentations by CCOVI Fellows and Professional Affiliates. The lectures present current topics of importance to grape growers and winemakers, ranging from viticulture and winemaking to wine business and culture.
Up first on Wednesday, January 14 is CCOVI Principal Scientist, Grapevine Virology, Dr. Sudarsana Poojari. His topic: The Foundation of Canada's "CLEANSED" Project for developing genomic tools supporting clean plant program for grapevines
Catch the lecture in person in Room H313 of Brock's McKenzie Chown Complex or watch live on the web at: https://lnkd.in/gVKH8cF9

12/15/2025

Planning a winter get-away? Learn about the wine regions of the world and impress yourself and those you meet along your travels. With CCOVI's engaging professional and continuing studies course — Wine Appreciation II, Wine Regions of the World — you will become a global connoisseur! Our next class begins Jan. 28. Register today and develop your palate and become familiar with regional wines and the viticultural areas in which they are grown.
https://tinyurl.com/mrc3nkdb

12/11/2025

CCOVI uncorks low-alcohol wine opportunities with new grape variety research.
Grape Growers of Ontario British Columbia Grapegrowers' Association Wines of Ontario Vins du Québec Vins NB Wines Wines of Nova Scotia

While consumers may not be reaching for a bottle of Soreli or Cabernet Volos this holiday season, Brock researchers say these new options are poised to make a splash in Ontario’s wine industry. The University’s Cool Climate Oenology ...

12/04/2025

More than 200 high school students and their science teachers from Hamilton and Niagara visited Brock today as part of Biological Sciences Day to learn more about academic and experiential learning opportunities available at the University.

During their time at CCOVI, students took part in a grape juice chemical analysis to determine sweetness and acidity of Sauvignon blanc.

They also took part in a sensory lab where — under a red light to visually mask what they were testing — they were tasked to identify various aromas in food and non-alcoholic beverages.

11/25/2025

As the long-standing steward of the Canadian Wine Library (CWL), the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) has expanded opportunities for special interest groups, scholars and members of the media to access and review the nation’s top vintages.

Housed within CCOVI’s 44,000-bottle cellar at Brock University, the newly relaunched CWL was developed to determine how Canadian wines age and provide producers with feedback based on results from scheduled tastings.

Check out this just-published story from University Affairs / Affaires universitaires ... https://tinyurl.com/yea6a4hk

The Canadian Wine Library welcomes tasters, educators and researchers to its 19,000-bottle collection.

11/25/2025

As the long-standing steward of the Canadian Wine Library (CWL), the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) is expanding opportunities for special interest groups, scholars and members of the media to access and review the nation’s top vintages.

Housed within CCOVI’s 44,000-bottle cellar at Brock University, the relaunched CWL was developed to determine how Canadian wines age and provide producers with feedback based on results from scheduled tastings.

Read about this exciting initiative in this great article just published by University Affairs: https://tinyurl.com/Canadian-Wine-Library-at-CCOVI
University Affairs / Affaires universitaires

The Canadian Wine Library welcomes tasters, educators and researchers to its 19,000-bottle collection.

11/20/2025

Have you seen our ad in The Lake Report? https://tinyurl.com/3ncts6va

Wine and holidays: a perfect pairing. Use the QR code in our ad and get 15% off upcoming winter classes, just for Lake Report readers!

Courses starting in January: Wine Appreciation 2 - Explore the Wine Regions of The World.
Certification in Ontario Wines - Winemaking in Ontario, including its history and the challenges and opportunities of cool climate viticulture and winemaking.

11/11/2025

“The common myth is that certified planting material are all virus-free, but the fact is they’re not.” Dr. Sudarsana Poojari, Principal Scientist with the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute at Brock University, clarifies how certification programs target harmful pathogens while to...