The Vancouver International Wine Festival is pleased to welcome journalist, author and senior contributing editor at PUNCH, Jon Bonné, as the keynote speaker for the 2019 festival. Bonné will moderate and speak at a number of public and trade-only events over festival week, February 23 to March 3, at the Vancouver Convention Centre and other venues in Metro Vancouver.

The annual BC Wine & Liquor law conference will be held on Monday February 25th in Vancouver, which is the beginning of the week of the Vancouver International Wine Festival.

The Vancouver International Wine Festival celebrates its 41st year starting Feb. 23 as it offers the chance to taste more than 700 wines spanning 16 countries. The festival focuses on a different region or country every year, and the featured region this time is California.

John Szabo's Vintage's Preview January 5th: Smart Buys under $17

From his start picking grapes at Tantalus Vineyard to now owning a vineyard with boutique winery goals of his own, Ryan Fipke is living proof of the value of education and training for B.C.'s wine industry talent. Knowing a career in the wine industry was his passion, Fipke began his formal training a few years back when he enrolled in the three wine certificate programs offered by Okanagan College's Continuing Studies Department.

The 2018 vintage required patience and precision at Phantom Creek Estates, but rewarded with wines of restraint and elegance. The Bai family would like to thank their exceptional team, both in the vineyard and cellar, whose attention to detail and tireless pursuit of excellence is reflected in this year's wines.

Wise brings with him a breadth of expertise to the role of head winemaker at Black Hills Estate Winery. Originally from New Zealand, Wise holds a Bachelor of Viticulture and Advanced diploma in Wine Science from Charles Sturt University in Australia. He has worked with renowned producers in New Zealand and Ontario before the cool climate wine industry in British Columbia drew his attention.

The agreement is for a term of one year, and is renewable for two additional terms of one year each. It permits the MS Society of Canada to promote Hill Street's award-winning portfolio of alcohol-free beer and wine to MSSC's constituents, with a portion of every sale generated through MSSC directed to help fund world-class research, advocacy, and education for those affected by multiple sclerosis (MS).

Recovering alcoholic calls sale of low-priced sherry 'mind-boggling' and 'irresponsible'

BC's annual Icewine harvest has arrived, with the cold temperatures prompting wineries in the Okanagan Valley and Similkameen Valley to start picking grapes on December 5 and continuing into the early morning hours on December 6. After last year's earliest start to Icewine harvest in the past ten years on November 5, 2017, winemakers and viticulturists in BC are collectively rejoicing at another early arrival of freezing temperatures.

Ontario government launches online consultations with vow to improve 'customer convenience'

Since the Corona maker first announced its $4 billion investment in Canopy Growth, shares have fallen almost 15 percent, providing savvy investors with a good entry point, analyst Vivien Azer wrote Monday. Azer, who is one of just a few analysts covering the cannabis industry, said early fears that Constellation may have overpaid for its stake in Canopy should quiet as the Canadian adult use market stabilizes.

New statistics released last week reveal that British businesses are benefiting from the increased ability to trade freely with Canada. UK exports of goods to Canada have increased by 13.7% to £6.15 billion in the last 12 months since a new free trade agreement was introduced.

Corcelettes Estate Winery in B.C. has recently acquired a large parcel of land on the Keremeos Upper Bench in the Similkameen Valley. The current Estate is nestled against the black rocks east of the Village of Keremeos. The new property wraps around the Estate from the north, and adds higher elevation, south facing, desert plateau vineyards

The Ontario liquor board's decision to resume sales for a winemaker facing widespread allegations of sexual misconduct is drawing scathing criticism from some of Canada's most prominent food-industry voices, with many demanding to know who made the decision and why.

Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc. is the latest big company to explore the cannabis market, joining beverage makers like Molson Coors and Heineken. Cigarette and beverage makers, in particular, want a stake in a market that could eat into demand for their traditional products. For example, a 2017 U.S. government survey showed daily marijuana use was exceeding daily cigarette use among high school students.

Six months after halting orders of Norman Hardie wines in the wake of widespread allegations of sexual misconduct, the Ontario liquor board is making plans to restock, and warning its employees who are uncomfortable with the decision to keep their opinions to themselves.

Owners of wineries and vineyards on the Skaha Bench of the Okanagan Valley have overwhelmingly voted in a plebiscite to create a sub-appellation, or as some call it in the wine industry, a sub-geographic indicator, according to vote results announced December 4.

Premier Doug Ford recently announced that, starting now, alcohol retailers will be permitted to keep their doors open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The extended hours will be in effect seven days a week.In the province's 2018 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, the government it's "further modernizing alcohol sales" by letting The Beer Store, the LCBO and other authorized retailers such as grocery stores and agency stores sell alcohol for longer.