Minister Rich Coleman announced several changes today that will help support local breweries and distilleries, create new business opportunities, and revise current liquor laws in British Columbia.

The provincial government has unveiled some major changes to liquor laws that should make it easier for small- and medium-sized B.C. breweries, wineries and distilleries to get their products to market.

The deal also includes Kittling Ridge's retail store licenses, giving Magnotta six boutique outlets in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), on top of the seven stores it already operates in Ontario.

Approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the deal allows Kittling Ridge brand to continue as part of Magnotta portfolio and add its Icewine and Brandy and Vidal Icewine products, and stores located in Barrie, London, North York, Richmond Hill and Toronto to Magnotta's portfolio.

Everyone in Ontario agrees that the grape harvest in 2012 was outstanding, some are even calling it the best in Ontario's grapegrowing history. The same prediction is being made for the ice wine harvest.

An Ontario push to let convenience stores sell wine and beer may be affected by a B.C. study that finds deaths jump 2 percent with a rise in private sales.

Magnotta Winery Corp has bought fellow Canadian winery Kittling Ridge, doubling its number of independent retail outlets in Ontario.

Faced with an expected flood of applications from winery restaurants seeking to expand their drink menus beyond B.C. wine, the regional district will ask the Agricultural Land Commission to again re-examine its position on the matter.

Cherry Point Estate Wines opened about 23 years ago and has 34 acres, but only 24 acres are used for the vineyard. The rest is for the tasting room, a bistro, house, a lake and extra space for special events such as weddings and concerts.

Among other things, the transaction will transfer store licences, grape grower agreements and the Kittling Ridge name and trademarks to Magnotta.

In the lead-up to its trade fair in Bordeaux, France this June, Vinexpo commissioned a detailed report on the world's wine and spirits consumption that revealed Canadians go through 15 litres of wine per capita, or roughly 100 glasses per year.

Winery to double number of retail stores and expand product portfolio

The government said Thursday its Crown liquor corporation will also drop injunctions launched three weeks ago in provincial Supreme Court against Wine Kitz Halifax and Water 'n' Wine in New Glasgow.

"Wouldn't it be nice to have your own vineyard" is a comment I've heard many times while enjoying a bottle of wine with others who appreciate a good glass of fermented grape.

By Dan Berger, So few Canadian wines are exported to the United States that I have had to stifle myself, almost Edith Bunker style, even though I get weak-kneed when thinking of the quality of some of the wines

a boutique family estate winery in the South Okanagan

Eau Vivre Winery has a new winemaker on their team. Anthony Buchanan, who has worked in the BC Wine Industry for over 5 years, is now in charge of producing the full range of award-winning Eau Vivre wines.

Tantalus Vineyards has some of the oldest vines in the Okanagan Valley. The first grapes were planted in the 1920s, and the first Riesling vines were put into the ground 40 years ago.

But as Canadian consumers learn more about quality wines, premium B.C. wines will flourish, growers say

In the Ontario town of Beamsville, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Niagara Falls, a small crowd of bundled-up figures crouched in a moonlit vineyard on a frigid January night, picking a crop of hard-frozen Gewurztraminer grapes.