(Wines&Vines) - Nova Scotia’s fledgling wine industry has developed a production standard that lays the foundation for an official appellation system on Canada’s East Coast. Discussions regarding development of a standard for local wines began in fall 2009, with the help of Ontario winemaker Peter Gamble, founding executive director of VQA Ontario when it was established in 1989 and now consulting winemaker for Benjamin Bridge Winery south of Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The first wines to qualify under the new standard were released under the Tidal Bay name in 2011. The name references the significant viticultural role played by the Bay of Fundy, which lends a moderating influence to the local climate, and serves as a branding tool that expresses Nova Scotia’s sense of place.