Australian wine producers complain about liquor reforms that favour British Columbia products

CANADA: The British Columbia (B.C.) government faces another trade concern over its liquor reforms. Brian Walsh, chair of the Australian Grape and Wine Authority has written to B.C. Premier Christy Clark raising objections to reforms that favour B.C. wines. Walsh stated in his March 5 letter that B.C. VQA wines had a 20.9 per cent market share last year in B.C., generating gross sales of $217 million. He noted that this was 12 per cent up from the previous year. Australia, had a 7.9 per cent market share in B.C. wine sales last year, according to his letter.