Page 60 - Grapevine May-June 2020
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International News
vey conducted between March 29 and April 3 by Columbia wineries were offering free shipping on
Statistics Canada found that 90% of re-spondents some orders in March.
reported that they were following physical distanc-
ing guidelines, such as avoiding leaving the house, Even in provinces like Quebec and Ontario, which
using social distancing when out in public, and both announced a total ban on the operation of
avoiding crowds and large gatherings. Sixty-three “non-essential” businesses for a month or more on
percent had stocked up on essentials at the phar- March 23, the production and distribu-tion of wine,
macy and grocery store, so they didn’t need to go beer and spirits are allowed to continue. Yet it is far
out as often. from business-as-usual.
The same survey found that 20% of those aged In addition to sales challenges, many wineries
15 to 49 admitted to increasing their liquor con- have also been impacted by supply chain dis-rup-
sumption during lockdown, compared to just 7% tions and unexpected labor issues.
of those over 50. Yet liquor store sales skyrocketed
in March, suggesting that some consumers have Vancouver’s Georgia Straight newspaper reported
begun stockpiling more than just toilet paper. that some British Columbia winemakers are behind
schedule on bottling because they have not yet
According to the British Columbia Liquor received shipments of bottles, labels or corks from
Distribution Branch, sales of boxed wine jumped international suppliers. Many wineries have had to
144% in March. Sales of bigger 1.75-liter bottles lay off tasting room staff, yet are also faced with
of vodka, rum and whisky were up an impressive a shortage of field labor because foreign seasonal
153%, and 24-packs of beer were up 120%. agricultural laborers are not yet allowed to cross
the border.
Yet home delivery has also had its hiccups. On
March 26, the National Post reported that the Priest Creek was among the wineries affected
Liquor Control Branch of Ontario had to halt home by production delays. Sawin said she would have
delivery of wine, beer and spirits outside of Toronto been able to open the tasting room as much as two
because Canada Post had halted delivery of pack- weeks earlier had bottling not been delayed due to
ages requiring proof of age at the doorstep to limit illness-related slowdowns at the factory that pro-
the COVID-19 risk to mail carriers. duced her labels.
A prior partnership with the home food delivery Across the country, provincial officials have urged
app, Foodora, has allowed delivery to continue Canadians to shop local and support small business-
in Toronto. Ontarians living outside the Foodora es as much as possible, including local wineries.
delivery limits can still order online, but must now
go pick up their delivery in person at a Canada post In Quebec, the provincial government launched a
office. website called “Le Panier Blue” (https://www.lep-
anierbleu.ca/) (a ‘blue basket,’ referencing the color
In Quebec, the Société des alcools du Québec of the provincial flag), to help Quebecers identify
announced a partnership with Purolator to en-sure local businesses where they can order products for
direct-to-door delivery would continue. Delivery pickup or home delivery. At press time, over 228
fees are $12, which will be donated to provincial Quebec wineries, breweries, distilleries, cideries
food banks. and dépan-neurs (convenience stores specializing in
wine and beer sales) had registered on the site.
Some boutique wineries, including both Priest
Creek and Vankleek Hill Vineyard, are bypassing “Let us remember that every dollar invested
the post office or courier service, however, to per- counts and helps support our local products and
sonally offer free local delivery for larger or-ders. our expertise, which further stimulates our econ-
According to the B.C. Wine Institute, 86% of British omy,” said Quebec Minister of Economy and
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