Michael Vaughan's Weekly National Post Feature

LCBO Alternatives?
Regulations handcuff importers to LCBO warehouse
© Michael Vaughan 2005
National Post Weekly Wine & Spirits Columnist
Saturday, July 30, 2005
LIVE WINE LINK
www.winefind.ca
(CLICK ON THE NAME - All listings are automatically linked to the LCBO database)
If there is a product that interests you, just click on the name below and you will instantaneously connected with the LCBO database. The product will appear in blue and all you have to do is click on the name again and then the next screen will provide details along with the store search. Just click on store search. The number of bottles in each store is updated nightly. Call the store first to see if stock still remains (each store phone number is listed).

This week’s column as written with the impending LCBO strike in mind - a survivor’s guide for thirsty imbibers. Fortunately, by press time, a settlement was reached but the alternative solutions are still worth keeping in mind.

First, those hankering for a bottle of fine offshore wine would have been totally out of luck had the strike occurred. Importers, who are forced to sell one case minimums, are basically prohibited from having any inventory on hand. It is illegal for agents to hold any stock outside the LCBO monopoly warehouse, even their own privately imported products. These discriminatory regulations are designed to curb consumer accessibility and sales outside the LCBO store system. Worse yet, the LCBO doesn’t provide equal, open access to all importers, which is another way of restricting agency sales. Surely the time has come to give importers their own warehousing facilities.

Some erroneously believe that the non-union agency stores (there are 195 across the province who would have not closed down) might provide relief. Unfortunately that is not so because they can’t replenish stock with a closed LCBO warehouse. Fortunately, this isn’t the end of the world for wine fans. In fact, it might be a bit of a mixed blessing as there are many decent wines here in Ontario that are worth buying in the 300+ Ontario winery stores. It is a sore point for importers who complain that the Ontario winery stores are selling offshore “Canadian” blends having up to 95% import content.

Nevertheless, some great values are to be had. Take the all Ontario VQA Jackson-Triggs Proprietors’ Reserve 2003 Chardonnay (526251) at only $10.95, which is on the LCBO general list. This great buy has a gently toasty, ripe pear nose and is dry, well balanced and medium bodied with fairly crisp, ripe lemon-red apple-pear flavours with just a hint of oak. If is widely available in Vincor’s 166 Wine Rack stores and outlets.

And that isn’t all. While recently visiting some Ontario wineries, I made a pit stop in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Avoiding some of the pricier dining spots, I lucked into the Anchorage Motel Bar & Grill (186 Ricardo Street) where copious portions of terrific tasting chicken wings (and fish & chips) fetched a mere $10 per serving. The crowning glory was their 40 oz pitcher of their great on-tap brews at only $14.95. With all the wines I taste, it proved the perfect pick-me-up .

Fortunately, when it comes to suds, there would have been no shortage. Even if the LCBO were closed, all 437 Beer Store retail outlets along with dedicated Ontario brewery stores would still carry on. A strike would have meant that certain brands exclusive to the LCBO would not be available. This is unfortunate because there are some excellent seasonal summer brews – nine have been released. Take the delicious tiny 250 ml bottle of Brasserie Dupont Saison (537670) at $1.95. A few years ago this flavourful Belgium gem would have appeared in the Vintages catalogue where it would have sold out in a snap. Unfortunately, Vintages dumped these lower profit specialty brews into the general list where they now languish without a drop of exposure. To go to Brasserie Dupont website click here.

Another winner is the organic, unfiltered, unpasturized Christoffel Blond (696955) at $2.50 (333 ml), which comes in one of those wonderful, reusable small brown bottles with a rubber-ringed ceramic top. This 6% alcohol brew is dry and well balanced with refined, gently malty, flavours. To see my National Post feature on this brew click here.

Closer to home, thanks to a $5 million promotional grant from the provincial government, the Ontario Craft Brewers association has just launched an Ontario beer route consisting of 25 member brewery destinations featuring 102 brews. Many of these craft brews are currently available in the LCBO (along with their brochure/map), although some are also in the Beer Stores. While you can track them down easily on the LCBO website, it is frustrating that The Beer Store website doesn’t provide customers with a product locator - when trying to find a brand you have to do a look up at each individual store! To go to the Ontario Craft Brewers website click here.

Out of some two dozen recently tasted, I was impressed with two brews that are available at both the LCBO and Beer Stores. First from Barrie comes Robert Simpson Confederation Cream Ale (679506) at $12.35 for six 355 ml bottles. Beneath the deep golden yellow colour is a dry not bitter, creamy, mouthfilling, balanced brew with elegant, gentle malt flavours. The second from Nobelton is King Brewery Pilsner (911388) at $11.95 for a six-pack. It has a light gold colour and dry, slightly spicy, nicely textured, tangy taste with some citrus hints.

If you are looking for something with more zip, only Kittling Ridge retail outlet in Grimsby has everything from whiskey and vodka to rum flowing freely. Unfortunately, these potent beverages can’t be shipped to your home – you gave to personally visit the store. For a real change of pace try the quadruple distilled Kittling Ridge Inferno Pepper Pot Vodka, which is on sale for only $21.25 for the 1.14 litre size. It comes complete with two large, hydroponically grown, “flaming red” chile peppers in the bottle – obviously a VQA-inspired, locally grown, Niagara “911” pepper! It is also available on the LCBO general list (465039) in a smaller 750 ml bottle at $22.25. For Inferno information click here.

Beer fans should keep in mind the upcoming Toronto's Festival of Beer starting next Friday, August 5th and running through Sunday at Historic Fort York where over 200 brews will be available for tasting. Tickets are $20 per person for advance purchase ($25 at the gate). For information click here.

As for the Toronto Taste of the Danforth (click here for information), I will be presenting some Greek best buys on my website next week.

2001-2002-2003-2004-2005 Tasting Note Database
Our tasting note database from December 31, 2000 to May 2005, covers every Vintages release product for the past 53 months. There are more than 9,000 notes in the database data. Just enter the name of the product, supplier name or CSPC number. Or you can search by type of wine, country of origin, even wine agent! Nothing could be easier. Also you can get information on the agent by clicking on the agent’s name, as well as current LCBO store inventory by clicking on "Check LCBO Availability", which will automatically tell you the number of bottles at LCBO as of last night.

To use our Tasting Notes Database: click here

** For All Visitors **
Vintages August 2005 Release
To see the complete list of upcoming 148 products click here (sorted by date of release). It includes the number of cases, which wines were presented by the LCBO, our agent ID for every product,
as well as, the 18 “In Store Discoveries” for August.
You can also see it sorted by agent click here
To see the complete list of upcoming 91 products from the August 20, release click here (sorted by date of release).
You can also see it sorted by agent click here

Copyright Food & Beverage Testing Institute of Canada 2005
Prior written permission is required for any form of reproduction
(electronic or other wise) and or quotation.
Contact Michael Vaughan at
mbv@total.net