Reading Time: 2 minutes Geneva | Reuters — Australia has complained at the World Trade Organization about Canada’s rules on wine sales, expanding a similar U.S. complaint against one province. In October, Washington accused British Columbia of providing an unfair advantage to local vineyards by giving their wine an exclusive retail channel in grocery store shelves and cutting out […] Read more
Australia takes Canada to WTO over wine rules
A different school
For Vance Lester and Sue Echlin, getting a non-agricultural education proved a big help when they returned to the farm
Reading Time: 6 minutes Graduate degrees in ecology and international relations don’t seem the kind of education that would be likely to help on a Canadian farm. But that’s where we might be wrong. For Sue Echlin and Vance Lester, that kind of schooling has been instrumental in their launching a fruit-growing and winery business, and in keeping it […] Read more
China seen set to become world’s second-biggest wine market
Reading Time: < 1 minute Paris | Reuters — China is set to overtake Britain and France to become the world’s second-largest wine consumer by value behind the U.S. by 2020 as consumers turn to more middle-range wines, the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR) organization said Thursday. In a study for wine fair Vinexpo it forecast Chinese wine consumption […] Read more
8 steps to go
Change Makers: Trail-blazers? mavericks? gamblers? Success for Chris and Betty Jentsch is all about winning at change
Reading Time: 10 minutes Harvest was wrapping up when I arrived in wine country. Up and down the valley, grape growers were breathing almost audible sighs of relief as final bins were hauled from the vineyard to crush. Seemingly overnight, the valley had shifted from the vibrant oranges, golds and deep purples of fall to the browns and greys […] Read more
B.C. to defend wine industry against U.S. trade action
Reading Time: < 1 minute Vancouver | Reuters — The British Columbia government said Wednesday it would defend its wine industry against a trade challenge from the U.S., and was confident it was not breaking any international trade rules. Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. said it started action against Canada at the World Trade Organization, accusing B.C. of discriminating against U.S. […] Read more
World wine output seen at four-year low
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters –– Worldwide wine production is expected to fall this year to its lowest since 2012, chiefly due to adverse weather that sharply cut output in France and South America, wine body OIV estimated on Thursday. Global wine output is set to decrease by five per cent compared with last year to 259.5 […] Read more
Switzerland to recognize Canada’s organic wine, processed foods
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canada and Switzerland have reached a deal to recognize each other’s organic certifications on wine and “multi-ingredient” foods. The two countries on Thursday announced expansions of their previous organic arrangement, which deems their respective certification systems to be equivalent for organic ag commodities and agrifood products. The amended deal takes effect Saturday (Oct. 1). The […] Read more
Outlook for a Niagara vineyard
With high-tech advisers like Craig Wismer, it turns out farmers and cityfolk can learn to live side by side after all
Reading Time: 8 minutes Craig Wismer hops out of his pickup at one of the 30 or so vineyards he manages in the Niagara Peninsula. Below him, rows of grape vines fill Niagara’s Vineland, serving up a panoramic view with a gleaming Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls and its river are on the eastern horizon, in the west are Hamilton’s […] Read more
Constellation considering Canadian wine IPO
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Constellation Brands said on Wednesday it was considering taking a part of its Canadian wine business public and reported better-than-expected quarterly net sales, helped by strong demand for its premium Corona and Modelo beers. Shares of the New York-based wine, beer and spirits company, which forecast full-year profit largely above estimates, rose as […] Read more
French co-op InVivo plans U.S. wine deal, more food shops
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters –– French agricultural group InVivo is looking to acquire a wine distributor in the U.S. and could open up to 200 food shops in its home market as part of plans to double in size within a decade, InVivo’s CEO said on Tuesday. InVivo entered the wine sector this year through the […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
