[Growwine] Fruit Wine Article from Canadian Grapes to Wine

[Larry Paterson]

My thanks to Dave Gamble of Canadian Grapes to Wine who not only gave permission to copy the story but forwarded it to me (saving my rekeying it).

Also of interest to growwiners is another article about our own grape Princess of the Rock, Glenda Baker of Gambo, Newfoundland, and many other articles which touch on Canadian growwine members.

Most certainly NOT focused on just the big wineries...

Lardy

Larry Paterson, lfw, rd, adcc
(Little Fat Wino, Roving Drunk, Alcohol Distribution Channels Critic)

http://www.littlefatwino.com/

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Ontario Fruit Wineries

Seek Market Access

 

By Dave Gamble

Canadian Grapes to Wine

 

  Fruit Wineries of Ontario would like to sell their products to seasonal farmers' markets, but so far have been legally unable to do this. Informal polls of people who attend them have found that consumers would like the convenience of  purchasing fruit wines along with their fruit and vegetables rather than having to drive to farm retail fruit wineries several miles away. 

  Last year a formal proposal to allow Ontario Fruit Wineries to sell 100% Ontario fruit wines at seasonal farmers' markets as a pilot project was presented to the Liberal Rural Caucus and the petition had an impressive list of supporters including Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Leona Dombrowsky and many agricultural and municipal bodies. 

 It has now been about a year since the petition, and while some MPPs have shared sympathy with the boost it would give to local agriculture, the usual stumbling blocks for less regulation of wine sales have so far prevented a serious step forward. 

 Deeply involved in the quest for access to farmers' markets are Bert Andrews of Scotch Block Winery near Milton and Halton Hills, who is Director of Government Liasion with Fruit Wines of Ontario, and Executive Director Jim Warren who has been a long time leader in the commercial production of both grape and fruit wines in Ontario and throughout Canada. 

  A distinct irritation to fruit wine producers are the incentives and assistance the Ontario government has provided to domestic grape wine producers but not to fruit wineries. Among the specific complaints was last year's $20 million program to promote and increase domestic grape wine sales. 

 Grape wineries receive a 30% rebate for selling VQA wine to the LCBO, however fruit wineries selling QC (Quality Certified) wine do not receive this rebate. Without this advantage the LCBO margin is seen to be too narrow to be worthwhile. A further advantage they would like to share is being able to sell directly to restaurants the way grape wineries can without incurring disadvantaged LCBO fees. 

  While fruit wineries pay the same licensing fees and taxes as grape wineries, they do so without receiving the same regulatory benefits. 

 One of the stereotypes that fruit wineries face is the idea that fruit wines are 'homemade' and lack the quality that grape wines have. People like Jim Warren point out, "Since 1993 we've had many wineries open with talented, educated people making world-class fruit wines, and we can't seem to get the government to understand that." 

  For now, fruit wineries represent only 1.3% of  Ontario wine production. Last year the 20 Ontario fruit wineries sold $2.2 million worth of wine compared to the $159 million sold by the 111 grape wineries. The conundrum is that in order to increase their figures, the fruit wineries are going to need the same types of assistance that allowed domestic grape wineries to spread their wings.

  In many other jurisdictions including neighbouring New York  State, wine is sold at farmers' markets by farm retail wineries. In Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia farm retail wineries are regulated to sell wine at farmers' markets.

  Bert notes, "I do hope that a speedy conclusion can soon be realized either to move forward or drop this concept that has local written all over it. Fruit Wineries of Ontario are asking our provincial government for a hand up rather than a hand out."
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