LCBO Snubs Local Wineries

By Robert K. Stephen (CSW)

(WINDSOR, ON) – I seem to detect a lack of love of the LCBO amongst the winemaking community in Lake Erie North Shore. They are not looking for handouts or pity but access to the market through an ability to sell at VQA only stores or at local farmers markets without the choking LCBO red tape. I have noticed that the LCBO takes great pains to sell a broad base of international wines in its stores which might seem commendable until you start to travel the wine producing regions of the world that focus on their own local wines in retail and restaurant. Yeah, like you’ll see Canadian wines in San Francisco or Paris but you’ll see loads of California and French wine at your local LCBO.

In any case LENS has been kicked in the head yet again by the LCBO in the “Vintages Love Story, 10 Great Reasons to Love Ontario” catalogue that I received in my mailbox today. These Ontario wines, 20 of them, will be available in LCBO stores on 10 September 2010. All 20 wines are from Niagara. Not even any token wines from Colio Estates or Pelee Island. The smear against LENS is made even worse by the mention on page 33 of the catalogue of Lake Erie North Shore, Pelee Island and Prince Edward County as “fantastic wine regions”. Yet only Niagara wines are featured. Is this some Libyan nightmare? Can this be real? I keep leafing through this atrocity wondering if I have missed something? Shameful, disgraceful and insulting to LENS. I query what the position of the Southwestern Vintners Association of Ontario is on this?

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