So, the Oakville-based company did something about it. Instead of waiting for the shelves to fill back up, Maverick started doing what any self-respecting whisky lover would do: going straight to the source, buying the barrels and bringing them home.

That mission has grown into BARNBURNER, Maverick’s bourbon, rye and whisky family, now seven bottles deep. It includes proper cask-strength bourbon distilled and aged in Bardstown, Ky., a Canadian-American blend that reportedly ended a small argument in the Maverick tasting room and the original 100 per cent Ontario BARNBURNER whisky that started it all.

Newest to the family: two rye whiskies fresh off the truck from Lawrenceburg, Ind., BARNBURNER Indiana Rye Whisky and BARNBURNER 21 per cent Rye Bourbon. Both were distilled and aged stateside, then hand-selected, finished and bottled by Maverick’s team in Ontario.

“We are not going to pretend the whiskey isn’t American; it is, and a very good one,” said Craig Peters, founder of Maverick Distillery. “What we bring to the bottle is everything that happens after it crosses the border: the blending, the finishing, the bottling, the jobs and admittedly a fair amount of arguing about proof points. Canadians shouldn’t have to give up great bourbon just because of what’s going on politically. So, we go get it ourselves.”

That “just go get it” attitude is a large part of Maverick’s personality. Peters started the company in Oakville in 2009 with the belief that Ontario could make spirits just as good as anywhere else in the world. He then spent the better part of two decades proving it, one category at a time.

What began as a small-batch vodka project grew into TAG No.5 Vodka, widely regarded as Ontario’s No.1 vodka, GINSLINGER Ontario Craft Gin, LUNÁTICO Tequila, CARGO Rum and the entire BARNBURNER bourbon, rye and whisky lineup. Maverick is still independently and proudly Canadian-owned and is still based in Oakville.

“Being a Canadian distillery doesn’t mean Canadians should stop enjoying great products from around the world,” Peters said. “Our job is to find exceptional whisky, bring the barrels home and put as much of the value as we can back into Ontario. Great whisky can come from anywhere. No politics, no borders, it’s just worth pouring.”

The full BARNBURNER lineup, including both new Indiana ryes, is available at select LCBO locations across Ontario and online at MaverickDirect.ca, with free shipping on orders over $150.

Signal49’s findings are clear: Canada’s automatic beer excise tax escalator is not working as intended. Since the policy was introduced in 2017, the federal excise tax on beer has increased by approximately 20 per cent. Yet, federal beer excise revenues have remained essentially flat since 2020.

“Automatically increasing taxes every April, without a vote in Parliament, also fails to account for changing economic conditions, pressures on Canadian brewers, or the affordability challenges facing consumers and the bars and restaurants that serve them. At a time when Canadian businesses are being asked to invest, grow and create jobs, automatically increasing one of the taxes they pay makes little economic sense,” said Richard Alexander, Beer Canada president.

The federal government has already recognized the escalator’s shortcomings by intervening to limit its impact in five of its first 11 scheduled increases. A tax mechanism that repeatedly requires government intervention needs to be reconsidered. Canada is also an international outlier. It is one of only three Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries that automatically index beer excise taxes, whereas other OECD countries set excise rates through legislative or budgetary decisions.

Beer is an overwhelmingly Canadian-made product. Approximately 90 per cent of the beer sold in Canada is brewed here, supporting Canadian workers, farmers, communities, restaurants and businesses across the country.

Budget 2026 allows the federal government to fix a policy that is not delivering its intended results. The automatic beer excise tax escalator should be permanently repealed, and future changes to beer excise taxes should once again be subject to transparent government and parliamentary review.

The full Signal49 Research report is available here.

“From an industry perspective, it has been encouraging to see the steadfast supportive and united leadership from our provincial and federal governments as our country navigates trade volatility,” 9 Mile Legacy Brewing CEO Shawn Moen said. “Measures like this reflect existing consumer preferences for locally made products, send a message of reciprocity to our American trading partners and focus our efforts on the things that we do control in Saskatchewan: building our local economy and encouraging internal trade.”

“I like the fact that our premier and the Saskatchewan government are leaving it up to the consumer to make the decision, and the government’s not making it for them,” Sherwood Co-op CEO Troy Verboom said. “It is going to drive those prices up on the retail shelf and the consumer can once again make the decision.”

“The premier’s announcement [was] incredibly exciting news for the Saskatchewan craft alcohol industry,” Last Mountain Distillery CEO Meredith Schmidt said. “As a proud and accomplished whisky maker, we hope this announcement encourages more Saskatchewan people to try some of the amazing products made right here.”

“We appreciate Premier [Scott] Moe’s support for a focused, Team Canada response,” Black Fox Farm & Distillery said in a statement.

“No one wins from a trade war, and ultimately, we all want to return to free and fair trade. But when Canadian businesses and the public are being asked to weather the consequences of tariffs, it is equally important that we stand behind the businesses, farmers and manufacturers producing exceptional products here at home. Saskatchewan is an exporting province by nature. We have always looked outward for strong, enduring and reciprocal partnerships. Saskatchewan produces world-class products, and this is an opportunity to make it easier for Canadians to choose Canadian. Perhaps the strongest response is not only what we tariff – it’s what we choose to support at home.”

“The tariff applied to U.S.-produced alcohol should give consumers another reflection point when choosing what alcohol they purchase,” Great Western Brewing Company CEO Michael Brennan said.

“This may give consumers of American-made wine and spirits a reason to return to beer, a product that uses an important Western Canadian ingredient: barley. While the majority of beer sold in this province is produced in Canada, the largest producers of beer are not, in fact, Canadian companies and the profits from their sale do not stay in Canada. I would hope this decision provides further reason for consumers to choose to support products that are produced in this province, and whose profits from operations are reinvested in Saskatchewan, such as the beers made by Great Western Brewing Company.”

Photo: View of Canadian craft beer cans on store shelf. Toronto, Canada – November 20, 2025. Credit: Erman Gunes / Shutterstock

“Saskatchewan has always been a strong supporter of free and fair trade,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Jim Reiter said. “Our preference is to see tariffs removed on both sides of the border, but Saskatchewan cannot ignore measures that negatively affect our producers, exporters and communities.”

The 50-per-cent levy will apply to U.S.-origin alcohol imported into Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority online ordering system used by retailers will be updated to reflect this change. Any U.S. produced alcohol ordered by retailers as of that date will be subject to the 50-per-cent levy. The Government of Saskatchewan continues to advocate for the removal of tariffs and other trade barriers affecting Saskatchewan exports and supports a negotiated resolution that protects Saskatchewan jobs and strengthens the Canada-U.S. trading relationship.

“Pile O Bones is proud to be a Saskatchewan brewery supporting local jobs and suppliers,” Pile O Bones Brewing Co-CEO Glenn Valgardson said. “We are feeling the impact of the trade dispute through higher costs. We appreciate the premier standing up for Saskatchewan businesses and ensuring our province has a strong voice.”

“Our objective is not to prolong a trade dispute,” Reiter said. “Our objective is to defend Saskatchewan’s interests and get back to tariff-free trade as quickly as possible.”

Photo: BCLIQUOR Lynn Valley Centre, North Vancouver, BC, Canada, March 12, 2025. Credit: lenic / Shutterstock

The wildfire moved through the Faulder and Garnet Valley communities last week, prompting the evacuation of Summerland. With the fire now moving away from the community, phased re-entry has begun in parts of town. Earlier access was granted to essential service workers, farmers and commercial operations with processing at risk, allowing critical farming and production work to resume.

This limited access has allowed the Okanagan Crush Pad team to assess its Summerland properties, including Monro Vineyard, the Summerland Food Hub Vineyard, Switchback Vineyard, Haywire Winery and Garnet Valley Ranch.

The news from Monro, the Food Hub and Switchback vineyards is positive: all three are in fine condition. Once power was restored, the team was able to reconnect remotely to irrigation systems and resume watering remotely.

At Haywire Winery, where Okanagan Crush Pad’s winemaking and cellar operations are based, the winery and its contents are secure. The winemaking team has inspected the cellar and reports that the wines in tank are in excellent condition. The cellar’s construction proved particularly valuable during the five-day power outage. The building, together with the winery’s extensive use of concrete tanks, helped maintain naturally cool and stable cellar temperatures throughout the outage.

Garnet Valley: A community coming together

While Okanagan Crush Pad has much to be grateful for, many of its neighbours in Garnet Valley and the surrounding area experienced substantial losses, including homes, horse stables, hay barns, greenhouses and crops. “We mourn these losses and will be there to support our neighbours in any way we can,” said Okanagan Crush Pad co-founder Steve Lornie. “Garnet Valley is a close-knit community, and we know its strength firsthand.”

That strength was demonstrated recently when Garnet Valley residents rallied against a proposed gravel pit that many believed would have significantly affected the character of the valley. The experience forged new relationships and strengthened existing ones – connections that are proving especially meaningful now. “A group of us came together around the gravel pit application, and in doing so we formed an even stronger bond as neighbours,” said Lornie. “That bond will help carry this community through what is an incredibly difficult time. Garnet Valley is strong, and we will rebuild together.”

As a small symbol of that spirit, Okanagan Crush Pad has printed 200 Garnet Valley Strong signs to place along the road and share with neighbours as residents begin returning to the valley.

Garnet Valley Ranch

Garnet Valley Ranch was directly in the path of the wildfire, which swept across the 320-acre property. While there are meaningful losses to absorb, the team’s first assessment has provided many reasons for gratitude. Thoughtful land management and fire mitigation strategies, including a large pond for helicopter water bucketing at the centre of the property, fire hydrants on the perimeter, an eight-acre wetland reserve, irrigated green spaces, clear areas around buildings and rooftop sprinkler systems appear to have significantly limited the overall impact.

Most importantly, the actively farmed vineyard blocks remain intact, as does much of the property’s essential farming infrastructure and equipment. Evidence of the fire can be seen in the vineyard, particularly in the dry grass between rows, but these areas are expected to recover quickly with irrigation or rainfall. Worker accommodation was spared with only minor damage. The pumphouse and farm equipment – including tractors, mowers and sprayers – are unharmed. The Outlook Visitor Centre and Shade Sail area were also untouched, while the event pavilion sustained partial damage.

The winery storage cellar and workshop survived remarkably well. Irrigated grass between these buildings and the property’s original log house appears to have provided an important buffer from the fire. The log house itself was lost, with only its chimney remaining. A storage area approximately 50 metres away, containing more than 140 picking bins and lids, as well as vineyard bird netting, was also lost.

Damage within the vineyard is concentrated primarily in fallow areas that had not been irrigated this season. Metal vineyard posts remain in these blocks, while some wooden end posts, fencing and plastic irrigation components will need to be replaced.

The team’s immediate priority has been restoring water to the vineyard. Crews began irrigating lower areas of the ranch on Friday, and a large generator is being installed to restore irrigation to the remaining vineyard blocks while the property awaits the return of electrical service, which may take several weeks. The generator was loaned to Okanagan Crush Pad by Penticton’s Greyback Construction – one of many examples of the generosity and community support being extended to those affected by the wildfire.

While seeing fire move through Garnet Valley Ranch has been difficult for everyone connected to this special place, the first assessment offers considerable reason for optimism. The actively farmed vineyards survived. Critical equipment and infrastructure remain. Key hospitality and working spaces were spared. Across Okanagan Crush Pad’s other Summerland vineyards and at Haywire Winery, operations and wines are in good condition. There is work ahead at Garnet Valley Ranch, but that work is already underway.

Gratitude for the people behind Okanagan Crush Pad

Okanagan Crush Pad extends its sincere thanks to the firefighters, emergency personnel, utility crews, agricultural workers, neighbours and everyone working to protect Summerland and help the community return home safely. Lornie and co-founder Christine Coletta also credit the Okanagan Crush Pad team for their extraordinary commitment throughout the emergency.

“We could not do what we do every day without these amazing people by our side,” said Coletta. “They have been pillars of support for [Lornie and I], and their dedication throughout this experience has been extraordinary.”

For Coletta, the wildfire is also a reminder of the resilience that has come to define the people working in the Okanagan wine and agricultural community. “Since COVID-19, our sector has faced challenge after challenge – from facility and road closures to landslides, extreme cold and crop losses. And yet, we are still standing together. What keeps [Lornie and I] moving forward is the remarkable group of people around us. They are what propel us every day,” she said.

For Okanagan Crush Pad, the focus now turns to recovery: caring for the vineyards, supporting its neighbours and preparing for the season ahead.

Called “NC Craft,” the new branding for the College’s wine, beer, spirits and cider was unveiled on May 27 at an exclusive launch event overlooking the on-campus vineyard – just steps away from NC’s Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery, which were all the first facilities of their kind in Canada.

This new brand aligns the college’s unique offerings of craft beverage products – wine, beer, spirits and cider – into a single, cohesive identity, reflecting the knowledge students gain, the guidance they receive from experts in their field and their focus on innovation and excellence as they learn to master their craft at NC. Reflecting this evolution, the Wine Visitor and Education Centre – the popular public retail and tasting hub for student-created products – will be renamed the Niagara College Craft Beverage Centre, to fully encompass the College’s diverse beverage enterprises.

Sean Kennedy, NC president, joined expert makers from NC’s beverage learning enterprises to pull back the curtain on NC Craft with a ceremonial sabering, cask tapping and cocktail shake-up. The new brand visually and strategically unifies the college’s world-renowned beverage learning enterprises with a cohesive product identity. Moving forward, student-created products across all three operations will proudly bear the NC Craft label.

“This marks a milestone moment of alignment for Niagara College and our trailblazing learning enterprises,” said Kennedy. “While our winery, brewery and distillery produce distinctly different products, they share the exact same foundation – with student learning at their very core. It is this unmatched, hands-on experience that truly makes NC a world-class destination for beverage education.”

The rebranding honours our proud history of innovation while elevating how we showcase the exceptional skills of our students to the marketplace.

Sean Coote, Vice-President of Partnership and Enterprises, Niagara College

Officially launched in 2002 (Teaching Winery), 2011 (Teaching Brewery) and 2018 (Teaching Distillery), NC’s trailblazing facilities have revolutionized beverage education in Canada. They offer real-world experience for students in the Winery and Viticulture Technician, Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management, and Artisan Distilling programs, helping to provide a highly skilled workforce for the sector.

In addition to supporting the industry, NC wines, beers, spirits and ciders have consistently raised the bar, winning top honours in provincial, national and international competitions. College staff worked with Cinnamon Toast marketing agency to develop the historic rebrand, which visually realigns the three beverage learning enterprises, and ushers in a fresh era for NC’s School of Wine, Beer and Spirits.

“The NC Craft label represents our evolution as a premier leader across all beverage sectors, bringing our spectacular student-crafted products under one premium brand,” said Sean Coote, vice-president of partnership and enterprises. “For 25 years, our students have been fully immersed in real-world commercial production environments. The rebranding honours our proud history of innovation while elevating how we showcase the exceptional skills of our students to the marketplace.”

The debut of NC Craft features several new product releases alongside a fresh look for classic favourites. Guests at the event were treated to a first taste of several newly introduced NC Craft products. New releases from the Teaching Winery include 2025 NC Craft Rosé, 2023 Dean’s List Fortified Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 Dean’s List Cabernet Franc Icewine, NC Craft Dry Cider and NC Craft Cherry Cider, and the Teaching Brewery has introduced NC Craft Cherry Pilsner and NC Craft Leichtbier (light lager).

NC Craft wine, beer, spirits and cider are available for purchase on site at the Niagara College Craft Beverage Centre, located at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is open to the public. All retail proceeds support student learning.

Accompanying the launch of the NC Craft brand, is a new tasting experience titled “NC Craft Beverage Flight,” offering a curated tasting flight featuring a selection of the newest small-batch creations from the Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery.

For nearly four decades, since the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and continuing under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, Canadian spirits have moved tariff-free across the shared border, supporting investment, job creation, innovation and economic growth in both countries. On Aug. 19, they will go from a zero per cent tariff to a 50 per cent tariff overnight, threatening to undermine that longstanding partnership.

“Both the Canadian and American spirits industries have felt significant impacts of this broader trade dispute,” said Cal Bricker, president and CEO of Spirits Canada. “While we are disappointed by this announcement, we remain committed to working collaboratively with governments on both sides of the border to reach a practical solution before these tariffs take effect. The long-standing trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. has benefited producers, consumers, workers and governments alike, and we believe that relationship is worth protecting.”

Canada’s spirits sector is uniquely vulnerable to the risks of these tariffs. Nearly 50 per cent of all Canadian spirits production is destined for the U.S., making continued access to that market essential for Canadian distillers, farmers, supply chains and the thousands of Canadians whose livelihoods depend on the industry.

The tariff applies to the principal distilled spirits classifications, and would include spirits-based ready-to-drink beverages.

The announcement follows provincial decisions to remove U.S. beverage alcohol products from retail distribution systems. While intended as a response to broader trade tensions, those measures have now become the stated basis for direct U.S. retaliation against Canadian spirits exports.

In 2025 alone, approximately 93 per cent of Canada’s total spirits exports were destined for the U.S. market, with the remaining seven per cent destined for other markets. Forty-eight per cent of spirits production in Canada is tied to U.S. demand, leaving limited near-term alternatives to replace it. Spirits Canada is calling on federal and provincial governments to work together immediately to prevent these tariffs from taking effect.

Specifically, Spirits Canada urges governments to:

• Engage immediately with U.S. counterparts to secure the withdrawal or suspension of the announced tariffs before Aug. 19
• Restore reciprocal market access for U.S. beverage alcohol products through provincial distribution systems as part of a broader effort to protect Canadian exports, jobs and investment
• Avoid further escalation through additional beverage alcohol countermeasures that could trigger further retaliation against Canadian producers
• Establish a co-ordinated federal-provincial strategy that recognizes the national economic consequences of provincial policy decisions
• Prepare contingency support for Canadian distillers facing cancelled orders, production disruptions, inventory challenges and reduced access to the U.S. market

Spirits Canada remains committed to working collaboratively with governments and industry partners on both sides of the border to identify solutions that prevent these tariffs from taking effect.

“The North American spirits sector is deeply interconnected,” added Bricker. “Tariffs do not simply affect exporters – they impact farmers, manufacturers, hospitality businesses, retailers, governments and ultimately consumers in both countries. We are concerned that this action could trigger a cycle of retaliatory measures that harms an industry that has prospered under decades of fair and reciprocal trade.”

Spirits Canada continues to believe that maintaining fair, reciprocal duty-free access for distilled spirits is essential to supporting jobs, economic growth and investment throughout North America. The Canadian and American spirits industries have demonstrated for decades that open trade benefits producers, consumers and governments alike.

“We urge all parties to return to the negotiating table as quickly as possible. By working collaboratively and constructively, we are confident that a solution can be found that restores certainty, protects Canadian jobs and preserves one of North America’s strongest trading relationships,” said Bricker.

Designed around the evolving needs of modern processing facilities, the FW400 represents a significant advancement in mechanical separation technology. Built on decades of engineering expertise and proven field experience, the new decanter helps processors achieve higher throughput, improved product quality and lower operating costs while providing the adaptability needed for changing production requirements.

“Industrial processors today face increasing pressure to improve efficiency while controlling operating costs and maintaining consistent product quality,” said Daniel Lakovic, business development manager for Flottweg Separation Technology. “The FW400 was developed specifically to address those challenges by combining higher separation performance with a flexible platform that can evolve alongside our customers’ operations.”

Unlike conventional decanter centrifuges, the FW400 was engineered around three core design principles: Performance Boost, Flex Concept and Human-Centered Design.

Greater performance where it matters most

The FW400 delivers higher throughput and enhanced solid-liquid separation through increased bowl speed, optimized geometry and greater torque capabilities. A super-deep pond design improves clarification while reducing overall energy consumption, allowing operators to maximize production without sacrificing efficiency.

Its flow-optimized, adjustable impeller enables precise process control, helping facilities optimize separation performance across varying operating conditions while maintaining consistent product quality.

Flexible by design

Recognizing that no two separation processes are exactly alike, Flottweg designed the FW400 with a modular architecture that can be configured for a wide variety of applications. The Flex Concept allows operators to customize the machine to meet specific process requirements today while providing the ability to add new features and capabilities as production needs evolve. Rather than replacing equipment to meet future demands, customers can upgrade the FW400 platform, protecting their investment over the long term.

The decanter is ideally suited for numerous industries, including:

• Municipal wastewater treatment
• Industrial wastewater processing
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Juice production
• Minerals and mining
• Industrial processing applications

Engineered around the operator

Beyond performance, Flottweg focused on making the FW400 easier to operate and maintain. The new machine incorporates a range of operator-focused improvements, including an enhanced housing seal to reduce environmental contamination, a foldable belt guard that simplifies maintenance access and a low-noise design that improves workplace conditions. These features reduce downtime, streamline routine service and help maintenance personnel work more efficiently.

The FW400’s optimized hygiene concept also improves cleaning effectiveness through redesigned rinse positions and enhanced cleaning geometry that minimizes product buildup and shortens cleaning cycles.

Sustainable performance with lower operating costs

Efficiency extends beyond throughput. The FW400 is designed to reduce energy consumption while improving overall process economics. When equipped with Flottweg’s proven Recuvane® energy recovery system, the decanter can reclaim rotational energy that would otherwise be lost during liquid discharge, reducing energy consumption by approximately 10 to 20 per cent depending on the application.

The combination of higher separation efficiency, lower energy requirements and reduced maintenance helps processors decrease total operating costs while supporting more sustainable manufacturing practices.

Built for today’s processes – and for the future

Whether recovering valuable product, clarifying liquids or dewatering solids, the FW400 delivers the flexibility, reliability and performance today’s processors require. With its modular design, enhanced process control and operator-focused engineering, the new FW400 reflects Flottweg’s continued commitment to developing innovative separation solutions that help customers improve productivity, maximize uptime and prepare for future operational demands.

For more about the new FW400 Decanter and Flottweg’s complete portfolio of separation technologies, visit flottweg.com/product-lines/decanter/fw/.

Located adjacent to Molson Coors’ Fraser Valley Brewery, the site will facilitate field trials of hop varieties developed through the B.C. hop variety development program, led by KPU’s Applied Genomics Centre (AGC) since 2019 in partnership with the BC Hop Growers Association and its members. It will also serve as a living library of genetically diverse hop plants and a dedicated space to advance applied research, supporting B.C.’s hop growers while providing students with hands-on learning opportunities.

“We’re excited to work with Molson Coors in supporting local farmers through this multi-year project,” said Paul Adams, PhD, director of KPU’s Applied Genomics Centre. “Partnerships like this really illustrate how cutting-edge research and innovation can address industry challenges and meet the needs of our local communities.”

Over the past year, researchers and students have been establishing the hop yard from the ground up, from prepping the field to planting the first experimental varieties developed at the AGC. Beyond testing new hop varieties, the field will also serve as a space to research best irrigation practices and more.

“Hops are a critical ingredient in brewing, and the Fraser Valley remains one of the country’s most important hop-growing regions,” said Graham Kendall, general manager, Molson Coors Fraser Valley Brewery. “We’re excited to partner with KPU on this initiative to support applied research and innovation while strengthening connections with local growers and providing students with hands-on experience that will help shape the future of agriculture and brewing in B.C. and beyond.”

“This project gives us a dedicated research field where we can grow things outside of the commercial scope and explore challenges that growers are facing in order make better-informed breeding decisions,” said AGC researcher Mathias Schuetz, PhD, who is leading the project.

Hops, which are the female flowers of the plant species Humulus lupulus, are used to provide flavour and aromas to beer while also functioning as a natural preservative. The Fraser Valley has a longstanding history of hop production, once having ranked as the largest hop-growing region in the Commonwealth in the 1940s. Using state-of-the-art DNA analysis and chemical techniques, KPU researchers are helping local hop production thrive again by creating new, climate-resilient varieties.

“We’re crossing different plants to create varieties with desirable traits, which we are then planting and evaluating in the field,” said Schuetz. “The idea is to create something that is resilient against heat and drought, while also being profitable and desirable for brewing.”

Hops research fueling hands-on opportunities for students

The hop yard also serves as a living classroom, with KPU students from multiple disciplines – including horticulture, biology and brewing – gaining hands-on experience each step of the way.

“I do a mixture of lab work and field work, which includes prepping the field, managing the irrigation system and collecting data on new varieties we’re trying out,” said Spencer LePage, an AGC student research assistant and third-year horticulture student at KPU. “I’ve had a really great experience so far, and feel like this work really helps bridge that gap between just learning about concepts in classes and actually doing them in real life.”

At the same time, KPU Brewing and Brewery Operations students are helping test how new varieties perform by transforming experimental hops into small-batch beers, one of which was served at the unveiling.

Supported by Genome BC and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the AGC is Canada’s first and only Technology Access Centre focused on applied genomics, and is nationally unique in its focus on serving the agriculture sector through direct, hands-on research support.

The Operating Agreement on Direct-to-Consumer Sales of Alcoholic Beverages represents one of the most significant advances in reducing Canada’s internal trade barriers affecting Canadian consumers and wineries in decades. It establishes a common framework that will allow Canadians to purchase wine directly from licensed wineries across provincial borders for personal consumption.

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are now implementing their approaches to DTC sales. British Columbia, which already permits direct-to-consumer sales of Canadian wine, has committed to implementing DTC for all alcohol categories by February 2027.

“This is a landmark achievement for Canadian consumers and wineries,” said Dan Paszkowski, president and CEO of WGC. “For almost two decades, WGC has advocated for Canadians to have the right to purchase Canadian wine directly from wineries regardless of provincial borders. [This] agreement is the culmination of years of collaboration between governments and industry and represents a transformational step toward a truly national Canadian wine marketplace.”

Deloitte’s independent 2026 report on the future of Canada’s wine industry identified Canada’s fragmented domestic market as the single greatest barrier to the industry’s long-term growth and competitiveness. The agreement directly addresses that challenge by expanding consumer choice and providing wineries with greater access to markets across Canada.

At a time when governments are working to strengthen Canada’s economy, reduce internal trade barriers and encourage Canadians to buy Canadian, this agreement will make it easier for consumers to support Canadian wineries, grape growers, tourism businesses and rural communities.

WGC recognized the leadership of the participating premiers and the extensive work undertaken by provincial officials to develop the agreement and the systems required for implementation. “[This] agreement demonstrates what governments can achieve when they work together to remove longstanding internal trade barriers,” said Paszkowski. “Our focus now shifts from reaching agreement to delivering results for Canadian consumers and wineries.”

WGC encouraged all signatory governments to complete operational implementation by the end of 2026 wherever possible. While the agreement establishes a national framework, Canadians and wineries will realize its full benefits only when every participating jurisdiction has completed implementation, and the system is fully operational. WGC also encouraged participating governments to maintain zero or very low direct-to-consumer levies and administrative charges.

The success of the agreement should be measured by whether it expands consumer access and winery sales, not by replacing traditional liquor board markups with new barriers that discourage direct-to-consumer commerce. Quebec and Yukon participated in developing the agreement and are establishing the infrastructure required to implement DTC sales, with the objective of joining in the near future.

“[The] agreement marks the beginning of a new era for Canadian wine,” said Paszkowski. “Canadians will have greater access to Canadian wines than ever before, while wineries gain access to new markets across the country. Our work now continues to ensure implementation is completed quickly, direct-to-consumer levies remain low, and governments continue building a truly integrated Canadian wine marketplace.”

While today’s agreement represents a landmark achievement, additional work remains to strengthen Canada’s domestic wine market. Wine Growers Canada will continue working with governments to:

• Support the timely implementation of direct-to-consumer wine sales across Canada
• Encourage all participating jurisdictions to maintain zero or very low DTC levies and administrative fees
• Expand opportunities for Canadian wines within provincial liquor retail systems across the country
• Encourage provinces to extend successful provincial wine support programs, such as the BC Quality Program, Ontario VQA Support Program and similar provincial initiatives, to eligible Canadian wine sold into other participating provinces.

Together, these measures will help create a stronger domestic market for Canadian wine, provide greater consumer choice, support investment by Canadian wineries and further reduce barriers to internal trade.