Kismet Estate winery celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, becoming the newest addition to the more than 30 wineries in the Oliver area.

No question in my mind that this was a quality wine, and no question that it was a riesling

Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd. (the "Company" or "Liquor Stores"), North America's largest publicly traded liquor retailer, today reported its results for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Much of Canada's current approach to liquor retailing has its roots in prohibition-era attitudes towards wine, beer and spirits. But anyone who thinks that era ended should consider the anti-competition rhetoric that emanates from government liquor stores across Canada or Ontario's government-approved private sector beer cartel, The Beer Store (owned by international brewers, Molson-Coors, AB InBev and Sapporo).

As the map below from the World Health Organization shows, Russians and their neighbors drink more than almost everyone else in the world. Canadians drink more than Americans, keeping pace with most European countries.

I still run into people who think that Stag's Hollow Winery-one of the woefully underappreciated gems in B.C. wine-is brand-new. I've written about them a number of times-including their rosé in last week's column-but the good folks at Stag's Hollow can't seem to shake their underdog, under-the-radar image.

Wine sales are coming to theSt. Jacobs Farmers' Market starting May 10. Two Niagara Region wineries will have bottles of Ontario-made product for sale at outdoor booths. "We see this as a great opportunity to get access to market and to be able to sell to our consumers," said Paul Pender, at Tawse Wineryin Vineland.

Raise a Glass to Ontario Act 114 aims at cutting red tape for local brewers, cideries, wineries and vineyards by eliminating transportation and warehousing regulations, as well as allowing producers to sell products from other wineries or breweries at their on-site stores. "This bill is now going to end up in the vacuum because of the election that was just called," Smith said. "But it's still a very important piece of legislation that signifies we need serious changes in the way we sell alcohol in the province."

with Trialto Wine Group, Ltd. ("Trialto") based in Vancouver, Canada

In a report to councillors Monday, the city's economic development department said allowing VQA wines at the St. Catharines market "aligns well with the expectations of the visitor experience."

Blacksquare founders Mathew Protti and David Gluzman developed Blackboxx, an online ecommerce platform that, since 2011, has been enabling winemakers to transcend boundaries and government protectionism by selling their products on the Internet. In the process, they have helped create new markets and a surge in sales for small estate wineries in Canada and around the world.

"We've regrouped," said Stewart Creaser, president of the Winery Association of Nova Scotia

Small and mid-size wineries want equal representation in British Columbia Wine Institute

It takes two hands to count all the research projects the BC Wine and Grape Council will support thanks to an influx of funding from the Canadian government announced on Earth Day. Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan visited Grey Monk Estate Winery, Tuesday, for a press conference trumpeting a $2 million dedication from the five-year Growing Forward 2 initiative, fostering innovation in agriculture.

"The research is very clear: allowing convenience stores to sell beer, wine and hard liquor would lead to harmful consequences in our community," said Jeff Newton, President of Canada's National Brewers.

This investment builds on previous support of $2 million provided to BCWGC under the Developing Innovative Agri-Products (DIAP) initiative, for a project to help improve irrigation and nutrient management to achieve the highest vine and fruit quality

For Fort Berens, this spring brings new growth to their team, the blossoming of their winery construction project and a bountiful spring release of their favourite and new varietals.

Some growers lower prices, consider replanting with different types

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre scientist Bernard Goyette has invented a chamber that allows winemakers to dry grapes appassimento style while controlling climate, air flow and humidity using a unique method.

While Washington growers continue to expand their acreage, many B.C. growers are landlocked and disenchanted by the high costs of apple production coupled with variable returns. In the last 25 years, the area planted to apples in British Columbia has shrunk from 22,000 acres to 8,420 acres today. B.C. Tree Fruits Cooperative, which handles most of the province's wholesale apples, packs about 4 million boxes annually.