Alberta, B.C. resolve wine wars that brought direct liquor sales to a halt

A new deal between Alberta and B.C. will ensure wine continues to flow between the two provinces, after a dispute earlier this year threatened to let supply dry up.

In January, Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC), which regulates the sale of liquor in the province by controlling wholesale and distribution, sent a letter to wineries in B.C. saying it had been investigating how consumers in Alberta were ordering wine directly from B.C. wineries, instead of buying it in an Alberta liquor store.

AGLC said at the time it wouldn’t stock products in retail stores from wineries that continued to ship directly to consumers.

During discussions to resolve this issue, all direct wine shipments were stopped.

Now, it seems an all out wine war has been averted as news of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Alberta and B.C. came to light Tuesday.

Alberta says in a press release the MOU will make it easier for Albertans to buy B.C. wine, while also making sure that B.C. wineries pay their “fair share” from liquor sales in Alberta.

As of June, there are 327 licensed grape wineries in B.C.

British Columbians will also be able to directly order Alberta wine to support that province’s fledging industry. There are currently 16 wineries in Alberta making 26 products.

The MOU will create a bilateral working group between the two provinces, focused on facilitating access to B.C. wines electronically.

Alberta has a fully private liquor industry, which the province says allow its residents to have one of the largest selections of liquor products in the country. There are more than 1,600 stores and 36,000 liquor products in the province.

The new agreement with B.C. will also give wine lovers in Alberta an even wider variety of wine options.

“I’m pleased that wine will once again flow to Albertans doors. I appreciate the collaboration between our governments, which is set to continue through our agreement and joint working group,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a statement.

As all the previous issues between the parties have been resolved, Alberta says its resident wine lovers are now able to order wine directly to their doorstep from their preferred suppliers.

The new agreement will last for one year, followed by an evaluation and review period by both governments.

-With files from The Canadian Press