Olympic wines
I like to say that in addition to chipotle, variety is the spice of life. For sports lovers, the last two weeks of the Olympics have been a Vegas-style buffet of variety — enough events to gorge on, dramas to drink up, and simmering rivalries to savour.
The athletes have been the star attractions, but the backdrop has been Italy. Most Olympics take place in one city, but this winter there were two main cities: Milano and Cortina. They were merely the hubs. Competitions unfolded across three separate regions: Lombardia, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige. Different mountains. Different cultures. Different wines.
Imagine the winner of a cross-country skiing event in Trentino-Alto Adige wanting a glass of Prosecco, the sparkling wine of Veneto. No issue. Any restaurant would happily oblige. Or picture the men’s curling team, fresh off gold in Cortina, looking to celebrate with a bottle of Franciacorta, a traditional-method sparkler from Lombardi. In Italy, regional pride doesn’t prevent national celebration.
Now imagine those same Games staged across three Canadian provinces.
It wouldn’t be so simple.
In fact, it would be illegal.
We’ve seen it before. In 2010, when the Olympics were held in Whistler and Vancouver, Canadian athletes from outside B.C. could not legally order wine or beer from their home provinces to celebrate. A country united on the podium, divided by its liquor laws.
As we cheer for Canada abroad — and my, how loud the cheers have been — why don’t we champion our own when we’re home? With the LCBO devoid of the usual American heavyweights the gaps have been filled by Chile, Argentina, and Australia. Many wonderful wines come from these countries. But where are the bottles from B.C.? From Nova Scotia? From Quebec?
This isn’t about quality. Canada makes exceptional wine.
It’s about control.
Alcohol distribution is governed by the provinces, each with its own monopoly. Yes, the federal government has eased many interprovincial trade barriers. But when it comes to alcohol, the provinces still guard their borders. The feds may be the parents — but the children aren’t sharing.
Fear not, fellow Ontario wine lovers. While you may not find a bottle from B.C. or Nova Scotia on your local restaurant list, you can have it shipped directly to your home. It’s entirely legal for personal consumption. It may require a bit more effort, but it opens the door to the remarkable variety Canadian wine truly offers.
As our athletes return from their extraordinary achievements, perhaps the best way to celebrate is with something made a little closer to home.
Raise a glass — and make it Canadian.