B.C.-Alberta wine war eases as premiers reach deal

Premiers David Eby of B.C. and Danielle Smith of Alberta have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at cooling a wine war that has been brewing between the two provinces since the beginning of this year.

In January, Alberta's liquor wholesaler told B.C. winemakers it would stop selling their products in retail stores.

The move was made because the agency which regulates the sale of wine in Alberta believed wineries in B.C. were allowing consumers in Alberta to order wine directly, rather than buying it in stores.

«Our investigation found tangible evidence of [your winery's] involvement in [direct-to-consumer] shipping of wines across provincial borders in Alberta,» said one of the letters, which was shared with the Canadian Press at the time.

«To maintain the integrity of Alberta's liquor model and to protect the interests of Alberta retailers and liquor agents, AGLC will not accept any inbound shipments from [your winery] from this date forward.

»We will resume acceptance of inbound shipments if, by way of written notice, [your winery] agrees to immediately cease [direct-to-consumer] shipping operations to Alberta."

The move came at a time when B.C. wineries were already struggling with catastrophic weather including record-breaking heat, destructive cold snaps and out-of-control wildfires leading to back-to-back years of losses in the southern Interior, with up to 99 per cent of crops being wiped out.

350 B.C. grape wineries

Tony Stewart of Quails' Gate Winery in West Kelowna told CBC News the loss of direct-from-Alberta buyers represented a $100,000 a month loss to their sales, which had been built up over decades.

He said at the time that his business was being «strong-armed.»

The deal announced Tuesday from premier's