Comments on: The Costs of Youth, The Price of Quality: Building BC’s Wine Industry

By: Shea

Shea — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:02:28 +0000

Good points Aron. I’d note that all wineries in B.C. operate under the same license (s. 58 of the LCLA), but that you are right that the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation (which is promulgated under the Agri-Food Choice Quality Act) requires that any wine labelled “estate bottled” be made from 100% BC grapes from the region labelled on the bottle. The distinction between “Land Based Wineries” (100% BC) and “Commercial Wineries” (not 100% BC) is an internal one made by the BCLDB, and is not actually reflected in the statutes or regulations. This distinction is entirely policy based and can be changed by the BCLDB at any time.

By: Aron

Aron — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:36:16 +0000

It should be noted that while the VQA sticker does assure that the grapes were grown in BC; this is not the only assurance. In fact any winery licensed as an “estate winery” in BC MUST use BC grapes. ONLY the big producers like Mission Hill, Peller, Vincor etc. have the “commercial winery license” that allows them to use imported fruit or grapes.

By: BC vs. France: A Tasting « Just Grapes

BC vs. France: A Tasting « Just Grapes — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:44:42 +0000

[...] the world, despite the fact that many of them have just left their diapers behind. Even knowing the influence of high land prices on wine prices, which I wrote about recently, there is no reason for consumers to pay more than $30 for most of [...]

By: Building Materials Supplies

Building Materials Supplies — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:15:41 +0000

This has been a very interesting read on land prices

By: Shea

Shea — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:07:28 +0000

Yes, interesting. So effectively if you buy from VQA then you are paying less tax that if purchased at BCLDB, even if the price is the same (since the winery doesn't 'tax' discount their wines to VQA stores), and the difference goes to the winery and the store rather than the government.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:55:31 +0000

VQA stores do not better discounts than private stores. Same, in fact. But, and its a huge BUT in retail business, the wineries have to consign inventory to them and only get paid after they've sold it.

From a retailer's perspective, if you have no inventory investment or risk then you can afford the uneconomic margins imposed by the Govt.

Should be noted that the Govt as wholesaler makes far more profit on a sale to a retailer than the retailer makes selling to a consumer. Totally backwards to all other industries.

Paul Rickett

By: Shea

Shea — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:22:47 +0000

Those with the best practices don't, but all you have to do is take a trip to Napa/Sonoma during harvest and do a little investigation of what goes on during that period.

These sorts of things are not uncommon in the agricultural sector. Canada uses illegal or really poorly paid labour in the Ontario tomato industry, which targets Mexican men with families back in Mexico and provides them only with extremely limited term visas with no hope of permanent status, low wages, and crappy accommodations. The labour conditions can also be horrible. Governments have repeatedly turned a blind eye, or even enabled the practice by banning unionization.

By: Tris

Tris — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:08:17 +0000

I do not know (I live in Ohio for Pete's sake), so please don't be offended when I ask: How do you know that Cali wineries employ illegal immigrants for labor?

Is it that common? (but not talked-about) If so, why is there no crackdown on the practice?

By: Bradley Cooper, Winemaker

Bradley Cooper, Winemaker — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:02:42 +0000

Thanks for this article. It's important to continue to direct a powerful beam of constant attention on this situation until every consumer can be shown the 'value' of the system they support. It's an uphill battle to get any necessary changes and governments are extremely reluctant to change proven revenue streams even in the best of times. I think a plan that shows a reasonable revenue recovery for governments without punishing the average consumer is what is needed.

By: Shea

Shea — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:45:17 +0000

I would also note, though, that there are different licenses as I'm sure you know. The VQA stores get better discounts than the new private licensed stores and accordingly have better prices.