Inland Northwest Wine Century Club » British Columbia http://thewinecenturyclub.com Exploration of the world through its wines. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:34:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Buyer Beware… Another Take on Canada’s Wine Labeling Issues http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/10/23/buyer-beware-another-take-on-canadas-wine-labeling-issues/ http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/10/23/buyer-beware-another-take-on-canadas-wine-labeling-issues/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:38 +0000 admin http://thewinecenturyclub.com/?p=677 In what has now become an ongoing topic for us, I have come across another viewpoint on the wine labeling controversy in Canada.  Beppi Crosariol has written a nice piece on the labeling controversy while also raising some excellent points on the source of grapes and juice for wines, and not just wines sold in Canada.

B.C. and Ontario wines: The scandal that wasn’t

Originally published by The Globe and Mail on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
Written by Beppi Crosariol

Canada has never been particularly good at scandals. And so it was with the great “cellared in Canada” wine fiasco. The squawking was over almost before it started. And, if you ask me, it wasn’t much of a scandal in the first place.

Responding to a sudden chorus of consumer complaints, British Columbia and Ontario this month declared war on bottles made with cheap foreign grapes that traditionally were stocked on or near domestic-product shelves. About 40 such brands, typically made with juice from lower-cost regions such as Chile or Australia, are sold by Canadian companies, including Naked Grape from Vincor Canada, French Cross from Andrew Peller Ltd. and Sonora Ranch from Artisan Wine Co.

Read the remainder of the article at Beppi Crosariol’s Decanter

]]> http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/10/23/buyer-beware-another-take-on-canadas-wine-labeling-issues/feed/ 0 Buyer Beware …. More on the BC Wine Labeling Controversy http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/10/22/buyer-beware-more-on-the-bc-wine-labeling-controversy/ http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/10/22/buyer-beware-more-on-the-bc-wine-labeling-controversy/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:43:06 +0000 admin http://thewinecenturyclub.com/?p=663 Since my original posting on a growing wine labeling controversy in BC, there have been some noteworthy updates on the issue.

October 16, 2009
Peter Mitham reported on Wines & Vines that the growing public outcry and increasing media attention have resulted in announced changes in Canadian wine labels.

Canadian Wine Labels Will Change

Ontario and British Columbia address Cellared in Canada designations: Consumers demand transparency

Vancouver, B.C.  — A storm of media attention is prompting changes in the handling — and in some cases the content — of Cellared in Canada wines. “Cellared in Canada” is a designation for wines produced in Canada with foreign grapes and as little as zero domestic grape content. British Columbia has no domestic content requirement for Cellared in Canada wines produced by wineries in that province, while Ontario has required not less than 30% domestic content in the wines.

Ontario originally introduced the designation in 1972 to provide for the blending of foreign wine with domestic wine during periods when domestic grapes were in short supply, but the term has been the subject of widespread criticism this year (see Wines & Vines’ coverage of the issue, Cellared in Canada Wines Under Siege).

Changes announced this week will boost the minimum domestic content …. [read the balance of the article at Wines & Vines].

Winery & Wine Distribution Law Conference

If you are interested in learning more about the leagal aspects of not only this issue but other aspects of the wine trade, consider attending Seattle based Law Seminars International upcoming conference Winery & Wine Distribution Law at the Vancouver Convention Center on November 12-13.  The conference will address a wide range of legal, regulatory and operational issues relating to the wine trade.  One of the panel discussions will focus exclusively on labeling issues, including use of the Cellared in Canada designation.

]]> http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/10/22/buyer-beware-more-on-the-bc-wine-labeling-controversy/feed/ 1 Buyer Beware, Especially in BC http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/10/20/buyer-beware-especially-in-bc/ http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/10/20/buyer-beware-especially-in-bc/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:12:03 +0000 admin http://thewinecenturyclub.com/?p=631 As consumers we all want to be told the truth, or least some reasonable facsimile of the truth, regarding the products and services we purchase.  Sit back for a couple of moments while I tell you a little tale about winemakers, government agencies and truth in advertising or in this case labeling. Imagine you are in your local wine shop or state run liquor store browsing for something different.  As you examine the wines on the well stocked shelves your just not sure what to buy.  You stop at a bottle with a striking label depicting a half naked vixen riding a Harley.  Our wine shop is definitely not in Alabama! Nah, the kids will ask too many questions.  What about something local you say to yourself.  So you make a selection from a display boasting that all the wines are local products.  Who doesn’t want to support local producers these days?  You take your bottle of wine, pay the storeowner and drive home to enjoy the wine at dinner. You’ve just been duped! What you don’t realize is that locally produced wine you purchased originated from another country entirely. What the hell?!  How can that be you ask?  Well this is exactly what has been happening in British Columbia, Canada.  I came across an article this morning by Gordon Hamilton of Canwest News Service that outlines this very practice.  It made me pause and wonder if this has been a common practice or a new trend.  Does it happen here in the US? The article outlines a practice where the three largest winemakers in Canada purchase “low-cost” wines from multiple locations outside Canada (California and Washington sourced wines are included) and re-label them as locally produced products of British Columbia.  Apparently all three producers had consulted with both federal and provincial government agencies before proceeding.  Amazing!! As someone who makes a living in sales I am completely stunned.  I’m not all that shocked at a producer trying to capitalize on the reputation of a region’s name with another product.  Whenever someone is trying to make money, none of us should be surprised by anything.  But the fact that government agencies would allow this to happen and not at least require some type of labeling letting the consumer know the origin of the wine, is, well, amazing to me. As my parents always told me – Buyer Beware!  Especially when your buying wines with naked women on the labels.
You can read the full text of the article- Sale of cheap imports as B.C. wines ’scandalous,’ say critics and consumers on the CANWEST website at – http://www.canada.com/Sale+cheap+imports+wines+scandalous+critics+consumers/2015578/story.html
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