Needless to say, Ontario’s wine and beer industries are overjoyed! In October, the provincial government introduced a $175-million program to support local agriculture and grow more food at home. Announced as part of Premier Doug Ford’s legislative effort to enhance free trade among provinces, the initiative is poised to create thousands of tonnes of Ontario grapes for use in both international and domestic wine blends.
Aaron Dobbin, president of Wine Growers Ontario, said the local wine province association was optimistic about the program’s prospects. He stated that it “will significantly increase demand for Ontario grapes, which will help farmers.” The funding, spread over five years, provides an emergency blanket for wineries and local farmers. On top of that, they deal with the economic fallout from Donald Trump’s tariffs and the trade war that hurts Canada’s alcohol-producing industries.
Under the current rules, blended wines are required to be made with a minimum of 25 percent Ontario grapes. This legislation gives Ontario vintners the tools to better compete. Today, they’re able to go head to head with international wines from countries such as Italy, France, and even California. The new regulations will permit DTC sales between provinces with the same laws. Dobbin is hoping that this will set the stage for similar bilateral agreements with each of the other provinces and territories across Canada within the next few months.
Natasha Fritzley, president of Cowbell Brewing in Blyth, Ont., said this program is valuable for small, independent wineries. “For those smaller wineries who are focused on higher-priced wines, it’ll be particularly helpful for them in creating a channel that they can take advantage of,” Dobbin noted. The partnership will help improve consumer access to locally grown farm products while spurring job creation across the province.
Fritzley echoed this sentiment, stating, “This will drive tourism, this will grow jobs here in Ontario.” She announced that her company will be making direct investments right away, as a result of the announcement. “We’re investing immediately in a 10,000-square-foot warehouse in Blyth and in a pasteurizer for our products with this news,” she added.
Despite the positivity surrounding the program, industry leaders recognize that major question marks still hang. “What it does is it gives us that breathing room and confidence to say, ‘Hey, this is an environment that we’re willing to invest in despite the unknown,’” Fritzley remarked. She capped that in-depth conversation by reiterating the importance of constant adjustment and flexibility in a quickly changing market environment.
The total $175 million • budget allocation is a starting point to restore financial health to the industry. It will deliver critical support to longstanding farmers and help local wine production adapt to outside competition and other market pressures. Dobbin described the announcement as a pivotal moment for Ontario’s wine and beer sectors: “This is a huge day for us,” he declared.
With the changing tides of international trade, Ontario has their work cut out for them. The recent legislative changes are an indication of the commitment made by government to increase local production and cultivate new vineyards and breweries across the province. The future of Ontario’s wine and beer industries will be determined by the effectiveness of these new measures’ implementation. With the right implementation, it can have a huge impact!
