Fewer regular wine drinkers trying 'mainstream' white grapes in the past six months -- Albarino, Torrontes and Viognier saw popularity increase. Merlot, Pinot Noir and Shiraz saw a dip, while Garnacha seems to be undergoing a renaissance.
Despite job losses, reduced winery visits and sales during the pandemic, not to mention extreme weather events that have cut production, Wine Growers Canada chair Kelly Brown, executive vice-president of Arterra Wines Canada, struck a positive note. "We're Canadian, so our businesses have been resilient."
Christine Colletta, one of the founders of Okanagan Crush Pad, says the winery has been working toward sustainable farming since it opened 11 years ago.
On June 30, the federal government repealed the excise duty exemption for 100 per cent Canadian wine, after Australia and Canada settled a dispute at the World Trade Organization.
"Phantom Creek Vineyard has always been planted with the aim to produce the highest quality fruit possible, and we're proud to continue that tradition today at Phantom Creek Estates," said Mark Beringer, director of winemaking at Phantom Creek Estates.
The Canadian company uses fermentation to make polyphenol-rich blends that can enhance flavor, reduce salt, block bitterness and extend shelf life, and plans to take its tech worldwide.
Wine brand Spade & Sparrows and major US wine producer Don Sebastiani & Sons announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership where Don Sebastiani & Sons will act as producer and North American sales representative for the brand. After seeing retail success in Canada and the direct-to-consumer channel in the US, the purpose of this partnership is to ensure that this highly sought-after wine brand is broadly available throughout North American retail.
Wineries in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia are learning that damage may not be evident for months after being hit by wildfires last summer. Could anything have been done over the last year to prevent or remedy such a situation? Three companies -- Agrology, Purfresh Wine, and UPL -- discuss the topic of smoke taint.
Constellation Brands' $4 billion investment in Canada's biggest marijuana producer remains a long way from paying off. Canopy Growth Corp has made a fourth-quarter loss that was far bigger than analysts had predicted, blaming stiff competition and knocking a further 15% from company's shares, further denting the value of Constellation's investment.