A deep freeze across large swathes of North America has led to a strong harvest for Canada's Icewine producers

Analysis points to British Columbia's candidates for signature grapes

2nd Annual Race to be held September 6, 2014

The Grape Growers of Ontario says the 79,756 tonnes of grapes are valued at $99.7 million.

As well, over 6,000 tonnes of grapes were netted in the autumn and left to be harvested for Ontario's celebrated Icewine production.

Consultations to develop regulations that would allow people in Nova Scotia to make wine or beer in stores will start this week.

Ontario Government Supports Industry Growth

The 2013 crop is valued at $99.7 million, up from $88.6 million in 2012 and came in at 79,756 tonnes.

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.

Miraculously, neither driver was injured. The wine, as you can see, was not so lucky

A transport truck carrying a load of Casillero del Diablo red and white wine crashed through a centre median of a southern B.C. highway and hit another truck loaded with pulp at about 9 p.m. Wednesday.

With next year's grape crop at risk from the frigid temperatures, researchers at Brock University have issued a grapevine cold hardiness alert for growers across the province.

The cold may provide a brief break from icewine production for some but winemakers and vineyard managers will be busy watching temperatures Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening that could be cold enough to damage grape vines.

Early this week the Ontario government announced its new New Opportunities for Ontario Wine Growers policy paper. It has gone almost unnoticed in the Canadian media but for the provincial wine industry Santa has come early and is finally delivering on a wish list that has been gone unanswered for years.

Lambton County's first grape winery welcomes new regulations as long as they apply to all homegrown Ontario wines. Mark Alton, the owner of Alton Farms Estate Winery, has concerns if the rules only apply to VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) wines.

Unless there's some leeway, most of the area's farmers' markets and small wineries could be shut out of an Ontario move to allow homegrown wine to be sold at such markets.

The decision by the Government of Ontario today to invest $15 million per year - $75 million over five years - to support Ontario wine is a significant investment for a key industry in the province.

Icewine harvest had an early start this year as the temperature began to dip to below minus 8? Celsius in late November; temperatures that Canadians proudly embrace.

The Ontario government has uncorked a new $75M wine push on the eve of an expected Niagara Falls byelection.