Winefest Calgary unfazed by boycott of B.C. wines
Survey of ticket-holders shows majority want to see neighbour’s products at event
The festival director for Winefest Calgary says the show will go on with wines from B.C., despite a ban on importing the vintages into Alberta.
After Premier Rachel Notley announced the wine ban earlier this month, organizers at Winefest Calgary were contacted by B.C. wineries attending the festival, concerned with how they would be received in Alberta.
Cathy Cook, festival director for Winefest Calgary, says a survey was sent out to ticket-holders, asking if they wanted B.C. wines at both Calgary and Edmonton Winefest events.
She says the answer is an undeniable “yes.”
“It was overwhelming that the majority wanted to see B.C. wines,” Cook said. “So we went back to all the wineries and gave them that information and gave them the option of whether they wanted to participate or not.”
Cook said the survey found 76 per cent of ticket-holders for this weekend’s event said yes, nine per cent said no, and 15 per cent were indifferent.
She said the survey also asked if ticket-holders regularly drink B.C. wines, but added there were no questions specific to the wine ban.
Out of the nine B.C. wineries signed up for Calgary Winefest before the boycott, only Painted Rock Estates Winery is opting out of this year’s festival.
Lauren Skinner, owner and director of sales and marketing with Painted Rock, said the decision not to attend Winefest Calgary is more of a supply issue than a political statement.
Because the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission (AGLC) officially stopped accepting shipments of B.C. wines on Feb. 14, Skinner said she doesn’t have enough product to meet customer and restaurateur demand at the festival.
“I had just enough to be able to pour, so I can stand there and pour to a lovely restaurant but I can’t actually get them any wine,” she said.
To show some interprovincial solidarity during the boycott, the winery is taking part in an event on Thursday in Vancouver called Farm Friends: Celebrating BC Wine + Alberta Food, an event showcasing both Alberta food products and B.C. beverages.
“The goal here is to unite and show that we love Alberta and we look forward to this resolving itself quickly, we hope,” Skinner said.
This would have been the first time the small, family-run winery would have attended Winefest Calgary, and Skinner said Painted Rock Estates Winery plans on attending next year.
On Wednesday, the B.C. government said it is formally challenging the boycott under provisions of the Canada Free Trade Agreement dispute settlement process.
Skinner said she hopes the two governments can come to an arrangement, as small businesses affected by the boycott are starting to feel the financial sting.
“We hope that it’s resolved soon,” she said. “We look forward to continuing and building on the relationships that we already have in Alberta and we just want to be able to service them properly and take care of those customers who have been loyal to us.”
Tickets for Winefest Calgary 2018 are still available at Rocky Mountain Wine, Spirits & Beer, located on 58th Avenue S.E., or online at www.rockymountainwinespiritsbeer.com.