Southern Alberta winery not happy with province’s deal with B.C.

A Calgary-area winery is not happy about a new interprovincial deal that will let Albertans buy wines straight from B.C. once again.

Starting this week, over 300 B.C. wineries can sell directly to Alberta consumers as long as Alberta can collect tax on the purchase.

Bjorn Bonjean, a winemaker and co-owner of Spirit Hills Winery in Millarville, AB, says the deal is not a win for everyone.

“It’s just going to make everything tougher for us in general,” he says. “It will massively increase competition for sure, 300 wineries in comparison to the total of….I think Alberta has 12?”

He says the interprovincial deal will have a negative impact on both indirect and direct sales for his business.

“We are going to see lower sales in liquor stores for our wines,” he says. “Obviously, cause it increases volume of products in there, directly the winery will also see lower volumes in sales because it will open up the market for people to go to B.C. and buy cheaper wines.”

Alberta wineries can sell their wine to customers in B.C. through that province’s liquor commission, but Bonjean says the taxes are too high and the demand is too low to make a profit.

“Our bottles would be selling for $85 a bottle on shelves there,” he says. “It is easier for us to go down to the states and sell.”

The deal between B.C and Alberta for direct-to-consumer sales will last one year before undergoing a review.