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International News
The Rise of the Virtual Winery
in the Niagara Peninsula
By: Alyssa Andres
T here is no doubt that now, more than ever pandemic. According to the provincial government,
before, we are living in a digital world.
Ontario saw a loss of over 140,000 hospitality and
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandem-
ic over a year ago, many businesses have had to tourism jobs between February 2020 and February
2021. With borders closed and strict stay at home
adapt and move online as a result of lockdown orders in place across the province for most of the
measures and social distancing. Today, being able year, destinations like Niagara wine country have
to run a business online is the difference between lost an enormous amount of their annual business.
thriving and failing. The added stress of restaurants being closed for
indoor dining, eliminating licensee sales, has forced
In Ontario, Canada, the food and beverage indus- wineries to get creative when selling their products.
try has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19
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