Unsurprisingly, liquor monopolists in other provinces criticize Alberta's liquor privatization. The latest critic is Ted Moroz, president of the Ontario-based The Beer Store, which has a near monopoly on private sector beer sales in the province.
After extensive consultation, the Government of Canada is introducing regulatory amendments that will help Canadian icewine producers expand export markets and protect consumers from fraudulent products. Primarily, the amendments will create a new national standard for icewine.
The SAQ, the Crown corporation that distributes and sells liquor and wine in the province, says it has to raise prices to keep up with inflation. Every February for the past few years, the SAQ has increased its prices by at least five cents a bottle, but this year, some bottles are becoming significantly more expensive.
Ontario recently announced that wines bearing the VQA designation and made solely from Ontario grapes could be sold at farmers markets, while a three-location pilot of boutiques selling exclusively VQA wines would be expanded.
The $75-million, five-year program, will focus on 100 per cent Ontario grown Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) wines. "The Grape Growers of Ontario welcome the announcement, and look forward to building on the governments strategy to grow the success of Ontarios grape and wine industry," said Debbie Zimmerman, CEO, Grape Growers of Ontario.
Grape Growers of Ontario estimates 14,000 people work in the province's grape and wine industry. Ontario has 500 grape growers and 17,000 acres of vineyards.
A BC winery will introduce a guide to pairing BC wines with Asian cuisine, and offer a specially labeled Haywire wine crafted for BC's Asian community to celebrate 2014 as the Year of the Horse.