CCOVI

Situated atop the picturesque Niagara Escarpment in St. Catharines, Ontario, Brock is home to the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute – otherwise known as CCOVI – an internationally recognized institute focused on addressing the research priorities, knowledge transfer, education and outreach needs of the Canadian grape and wine industry.

CCOVI was established in 1996, in partnership with Grape Growers of Ontario and the Wine Council of Ontario.

In 1999, CCOVI officially opened the doors of Inniskillin Hall, thus cementing the formal creation of the institute. This development was made possible thanks to the generous support of Donald Ziraldo, John Howard and the broader Canadian grape and wine industry, which raised the $2.1 million necessary to build Inniskillin Hall through the Harvesting Knowledge Campaign. Over the past two decades, the continued support from the industry has been critical to the growth and development of the institute.

As the institute has grown, its research and services have expanded beyond the science disciplines of oenology and viticulture to look at all areas of the grape and wine value chain, such as wine business, consumer behavior, sustainability and policy research.

CCOVI focuses its research on industry needs that help increase the growth, profitability and sustainability of the Canadian industry; provides education opportunities to train the industry leaders of tomorrow; and provides international conferences and events that help raise the profile of Canadian wine globally. The institute works closely with its industry partners to provide outreach solutions for adapting to a constantly evolving and changing industry.
CCOVI’s innovative outreach programs include services that help growers and winemakers make informed decisions in their operations, provide critical knowledge transfer opportunities and ensure the vitality of the industry for years to come.

The institute has been making its mark in these efforts. A 2016 report conducted by the management consulting firm MDB Insight, showed that the research outputs from CCOVI over the past decade has resulted in CCOVI contributing more than $91-million annually to the provincial economy in Ontario and the equivalent of 307 jobs.

Visit the CCOVI website for more information.