"Over the first nine months of 2012, Canadian consumers spent almost half a billion dollars more on alcohol than they did over the same period last year - an increase of 3.6 per cent," says BMO Capital Markets Economist Aaron Goertzen.

Annual alcohol sales in Canada are expected to top $19 billion this year, about 38 per cent or $700 million higher than in 2011, BMO economist Aaron Goertzen said.

The founders of Vancouver Urban Winery, a very cool multi-function space with tasting bar introduced a new idea to Vancouver earlier this year - importing good wines in bulk and packaging it locally. First, they packaged wines in kegs for a wine on tap trade they started.

Ontario's Progressive Conservatives admit they don't know if private alcohol sales would increase government revenues, but say the idea is worth looking at.

The founders of Vancouver Urban Winery, a cool multi-function space with a tasting bar introduced a new idea to Vancouver earlier this year - importing good wines in bulk and packaging them locally. First, they put wines in kegs for a wine-on-tap trade they started.

Lester and Echlin won the regional award, which recognizes excellence in agriculture, in June and went to the national week-long competition in P.E.I. last week.

Ontario's wine producers, frustrated with limited shelf space in government-run liquor stores, say it's time for change. They are calling on consumers to beat the drum for new private stores, which they say should be allowed to compete with existing Liquor Control Board of Ontario outlets

Ontario winemakers have started to wait patiently for temperatures to reach a minimum of minus 8? Celsius; just right for the winter harvest of one of Canada's most cherished products, Ontario Icewine.

Conditions included the mild winter, spring frost that didn't damage buds nearly as much as its devastation of Ontario apples. The hot, dry summer that concentrates prized sugars and a fall harvest yielding such high-quality grapes.

First, March brought record-shattering heat, which fooled ornamental and fruit trees into blossoming early and when frost cruelly came back in April, the end result was lots of lost peaches, pears and apples. But then we had summer drought and a prolonged heat wave.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library has teamed up with the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake to present Wine & Words, a new author series featuring celebrated Canadian authors paired up with Niagara wines.

'Tidal Bay reflects the unique terroir we have'

A record 2012 grape harvest and a global wine shortage have Ontario grape growers optimistic that 2013 will see more wine lovers than ever from Ontario and around the world enjoying award-winning Ontario wines.

The report recommends hiking minimum prices for booze in some provinces and implementing minimums where there are none, like in Alberta liquor stores. The author of the report hopes that government uses liquor prices to affect social factors, like health and crime.

Vancouver Urban Winery officially has launched their first wine label: Roaring Twenties Wine Co.. Currently available throughout the BC market, the label will initially release a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand and a Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, both with suggested retail of $14.99

The Ontario wine industry is projecting soaring demand for its product next year, on the strength of a record output and European shortfall.

With the British Columbia Wine Institute estimating the province's grape crop reaching 35,000 tons this year, some observers are talking about the potential for a surplus.

"The success of our region is making wines that show elegance and finesse, and not power." The Niagara Peninsula is a cool climate region and the wines will always be more about fresh acidities and bright fruit than the creamier textured, more dark-fruited wines of warmer climates.

The Canadian Vintners Association's has received $160,000 in federal funding to support its ongoing international market development and trade efforts.

Nova Scotia is amending legislation to allow individuals to directly import 100 percent certified locally grown and produced Canadian wine for personal use.