Ontario Wineries can now sell wine at local farmer's markets. What do you think?

The province of Ontario released a statement today announcing they will be allowing Ontario VQA wines to be sold at local farmer’s markets:

The province is making it easier for consumers to choose Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Ontario wine by expanding the LCBO’s new “Our Wine Country” destination boutiques and allowing VQA wines to be sold at farmers’ markets through the renewed Wine and Grape Strategy.

“I’m committed to supporting this innovative industry and I encourage consumers to choose Ontario wines first as they share them with family and friends this holiday season and throughout the year. They’re local, they’re good for our economy, and they support good jobs,” says Kathleen Wynne, Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Food of Ontario.

Other features of the $75 million Wine and Grape Strategy will support local wineries and help the sector grow by:

Establishing an Ontario Wine Fund to support key winery and vineyard investments, such as specialized equipment and machinery, and enhanced marketing for the province’s wines locally and globally.
Creating a Wine Secretariat to be a one window point for discussions between the province and industry and identifying ways to reduce red tape to help make grape growers and wineries more competitive.
.

VQA wine sales in Ontario have increased by $100 million since 2008 — from $168 million in 2008 to $268 million in 2013.

On the website WindsorEats.com:

Bernie Gorski, winemaker and owner of Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, says that this isn’t just a big announcement for local wineries but is a huge achievement province-wide.

“It helps give us access to a market we’ve been restricted from since 1920,” Bernie explains. “It’s nice to see our government working with us .”

He goes on to say that he expects a huge impact to be able to sell wines in an area they’ve never been able to before.

“Having a broader market cannot be a bad thing,” he says. “It’s a major achievement for wineries in Ontario and we’re very pleased to be in business at this time while it’s happening.”

What do you think?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on December 16, 2013 at 1:25pm

Great new reason to go to local farmers' markets.

I will be buying some wine there now.

Beep Beep!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on December 17, 2013 at 1:59am

NOTILLville Dec 16, 7:40pm via Twitter for BlackBerry

@OntAg they've been doing it in Saskatchewan for a couple of years now to rave reviews. Welcome to enlightened farmer's marketing!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on December 17, 2013 at 1:59am

qaash Dec 16, 6:17pm via Web

@ethicalgourmet @OntAg Great news! I hope we see some soon at @CoventMarket in #LndOnt

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on December 17, 2013 at 2:00am

agecprof 6:08am via iOS

Good, but won't loosen the LCBO monopoly:

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joann on December 17, 2013 at 5:14am

I have to seriously question how Ontario has the right to continual monopoly control of alcoholic sales.

I believe the Crown right to control alcohol in parts of Ontario/Quebec stems from a 17th century Royal Proclamation (if it has been rescinded, please advise, as I have not found that component) but conditions were attached.

I thought the Crown was bound to the 21 year rule like the rest of us.

Is it time to question the LCBO monopoly powers in court?

▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

KAP Celebrates 42nd Annual General Meeting and Sets Strong Policy Direction

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) held its 42nd annual meeting on February 3, 2026, at the Delta Hotels Winnipeg bringing together farmers, industry partners, stakeholders, elected officials, and government representatives to review a year of significant advocacy achievements and to set priorities for the year ahead. “Our AGM provides an opportunity each year to gather members from across the province, and I want to thank them for attending the 2026 AGM this week to connect with each other, engage on critical issues facing for our sector, and set priorities for our ongoing work and future direction,” said Jill Verwey, KAP President. Panels and policy workshops during the AGM focused on Manitoba’s drainage network, right to repair, interoperability and digital agriculture led by Tyler McCann, Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. “KAP’s work is driven by the priorities and perspectives of Manitoba farmers, said Colin Hornby, KAP General Manager. “This pa

Horticulture School

The Horticulture School is presented by Manitoba Agriculture, Agriculture Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) - Portage and Assiniboine College - Brandon. The school provides horticulture producers with learning opportunities to improve yield and quality of their crops. If you are a market gardener, vegetable &/or fruit producer, or have an interest in horticulture production please join us at the school. The following are the focus areas of the school: Pathology - Conventional and non-conventional disease management. Fruit - Production information and updates Vegetable - Production information and updates, sweet potato production, storage issues Entomology - Early season pests - cutworms, flea beetles, diamondback moth, grasshoppers Soils - Soil fertility planning Weeds - Recognizing drift, systemic vs contact herbicides, post harvest weed control Certified Crop Advisor credits are available for participants. Upcoming Horticulture Webinar Series: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. Dr. Vi

Portage la Prairie research farm to close following AAFC cuts

An Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research farm in Portage la Prairie will be closing as part of federal government funding cuts. Earlier this month, the department announced that seven research facilities across multiple provinces will be closing as the federal government moves to reduce the size of the public service. “We knew that the government was going to be making reductions, it was just a question of where,” said Colin Hornby, general manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), which represents thousands of farmers in the province. “Firstly, the details are not all clear yet, we’re still figuring out how these things are going to happen… but more generally speaking, a reduction in research capacity is always something that concerns us,” he said. Hornby said the federal facility was also used by universities and other researchers to conduct a range of studies, including work on horticulture, grain, oil and other conventional crops. “Research is the foundation

Seeking Asian market development, growth

On Alfonz Koncan’s agenda: get more Manitoba businesses into Hong Kong. Koncan is Winnipeg chapter co-president of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association. The group recently signed a letter of co-operation with the Manitoba government. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, a statutory body, also signed a co-operation letter with the province. “We’re not focused hard enough,” Koncan said of local trade with Hong Kong (a special administrative region of China) and Southeast Asia. “We have too much of our trade going south (to the U.S.) and it’s vulnerable.” He called Hong Kong a “pivot point” — a financial hub where players from nearby countries find trading partners. Manitoba ships commodities such as barley, canola and wheat to Southeast Asia. There’s room for growth, especially as areas become wealthier and more populous, Koncan said. He and colleagues aim to connect Manitoba firms with Hong Kong trade shows. The association has been doing so for several decades; it’s crea

Supreme Egg Products Helps Ontario Processors Secure Reliable Liquid Egg Supply with 99% Fill Rate.

Supreme Egg Products, a specialist in egg processing, empowers Ontario's industrial processors and HRI operations with dependable liquid eggs and hard-boiled eggs, backed by a 99% fill rate that ensures production continuity.

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service