With thursday's news that the BC government has decided to permit the online purchase and shipment of 100% Canadian wines produced in any Province into BC, will you personally take advantage of your new found freedom?
Currently, the restriction limits the online extra-provincial purchasing to wines containing 100% Canadian grown grapes which means the sourcing of Bordeaux Futures from Alberta as suggested in my Bordeaux 2011 Futures and Wine Laws post is, for now, a no-go. Though, this may not be the last we hear of this topic as Vancouver lawyer Mark Hicken points out on his informative website, winelaw.ca, the stipulation that the wine be 100% Canadian may not adhere to Federally signed trade agreements that prohibit the preferential treatment of Canadian products over those from a treaty consignee.
However these details work themselves out, in the meantime, British Columbians should celebrate and head to their nearest Google Machine and place an order... because, well, you can! But, what should you buy? For many in BC, thanks to the previous Iron Curtain Of Taxes created by the provincial liquor monopolies, Ontario wines (and beyond) remain a complete mystery to folks on the West Coast. A few Ontario wines make their way in to the BC Market, but only a few and many of these are of the celebrity-themed variety. It will be interesting to monitor if BC wine lovers actually take advantage of the new regulation as they get more familiar with the Canadian wines produced beyond their provincial borders.
