Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor won the challenge for having the most submissions in his riding.

"We knew the restaurants were out there and serving our wines," said Hilary Dawson, president of the Wine Council of Ontario. "We just had to find and locate them and then get them to apply."

All of the restaurants who applied for the awards continue to serve VQA wines in their restaurants.

"VQA wines sell themselves," said Craitor. "I don't need to sell them."

Craitor, who said that the MPP challenge was a great way to spread the word about VQA wines, admitted when first being elected he knew nothing about the wine industry.

"Sometimes I feel frustrated trying to get the message out there that we have such a great product," said Craitor.

Craitor said he wants to try and increase the number of restaurants who serve VQA wines and give the general public a better idea of what VQA stands for: home-grown.

"We make some of the best wines in the world and grow the best produce," said Craitor.

The 19 restaurants that received awards are 17 Noir, Restaurant Tony deLuca, Canyon Creek Chophouse-Fallsview, Queenston Heights Restaurant, Shaw Cafe and Wine Bar, Stone Road Grille, The Epicurean, Buchanans Chophouse, Cannery Restaurant at Pillar and Post Hotel, Casa Mia Ristorante, Hillebrand Winery Restaurant, Escabeche at Prince of Wales Hotel, Tiara Restaurant at Queens Landing Hotel, Bench Bar and Grille at White Oaks Resort, Peking Restaurant, Riverbend Inn and Vineyard, AG Inspired Cuisine in the Sterling Inn and Spa, The Charles Inn, and Zee's Patio and Grill.

The Wine Council of Ontario is a non-profit trade association that represents Ontario's four wine regions. These regions grow 75 per cent of the grapes used in Canadian wine production.