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Breaking down borders

MPs hoping to bring Canadian wine-shipping laws out of the dark ages

By: Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson

Posted: 10/8/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 10/8/2011 12:57 PM | Updates

For about $20 a bottle, the 2010 Famille Brechet Lirac

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For about $20 a bottle, the 2010 Famille Brechet Lirac "Plateau des Chenes" leaps out of the glass with the scent of dried wild herbs, ripe blackberries, olives and earth. (BOB CHAMBERLIN / TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

NOW that I’m back from my weekend in the Okanagan Valley with Taste of B.C. contest winners Ken and Hedy Pawluk, I’m kicking myself for not bringing back a few wines home in my suitcase. Yes, you can order wine online from many British Columbia and Ontario wineries, but it’s illegal to have it shipped from either province to Manitoba (or any other province, for that matter).

For a time it looked as if Kelowna-Lake County Conservative MP Ron Cannan's motion in the House of Commons might have some traction. In introducing Motion 601 last December, Cannan hoped to allow for a personal exemption from the penalties of the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, 1928 (IILA) when travelling to and from wine country. (Yes, while there have been a few amendments to the law, it was in fact written in 1928.)

Motion 601 gave up the ghost when the last federal election was called. However, in June Cannan revived the motion (it became Motion 218), which stated that individuals should be exempt from the IILA when transporting wine inter-provincially for their own use.

I'm no expert on parliamentary law, but my understanding is that a motion is essentially lip service -- a way to get something mentioned in the House of Commons without actually having to act or vote on it. For that, you need a Private Member's Bill.

Enter Conservative MP Dan Albas (Okanagan-Coquihalla), who this past Monday introduced Bill C-311 (readable in full with far more context at www.daninottawa.com, Albas' website). The bill would add a clause that would exempt individuals from the IILA who are bringing wine across provincial borders for their own use, shifting the responsibility from the federal Act to individual provinces.

I'm assuming Bill C-311 will see some time and debate (if there is any) in the House of Commons before being voted on at some point in the future. It has the support of some key Conservative MPs, so there's a chance it might make some headway.

Naturally, the movement to update wine-shipping laws has a Facebook page -- check out www.facebook.com/endwineprohibition for more.

Stay tuned!

 

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One of the biggest proponents of modernizing the inter-provincial wine shipping laws is Canadian media icon Terry David Mulligan. It just so happens I was interviewed by TDM (my inner teenager was very nervous) for Tasting Room Radio, his wine-related radio show, and my segment will apparently air this Saturday via www.tastingroomradio.com. Also on the show will be Wolf Blass, Peter Gago and Steve Leinert (of Penfolds) and Daenna Van Mulligen (The Wine Diva). You can be sure that TDM will have a few things to say about the potential change in wine shipping laws...

 

-- -- --

 

Thanksgiving hours: Winnipeg Liquor Marts open at 9 a.m. Saturday and close at regular hours, are open regular hours on Sunday and from noon to 6 p.m. this Thanksgiving Monday, with the exception of the Cityplace location. Private wine stores' hours will vary, but most will likely be open regular hours over the weekend and holiday hours on Monday. As always, call ahead to confirm.

Speaking of Thanksgiving,

here are some wines to consider

for your big dinner...

 

ROBERT MONDAVI 2009 PRIVATE SELECTION RIESLING

(California -- $14.49, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Most evident on the nose of this white are aromas of fresh-cut flowers, pear, flint and a light waxiness. Light-bodied and off-dry on the palate, it delivers almost-sweet apple, lemon candy, peach and light spice flavours with some light but firm acidity. Get your bird in the oven and this wine in the fridge. 86/100

 

GENERATIONS WINE CO. 2009 "UNION" WHITE

(Ontario -- $14.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

A mish-mash of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay, the Union white brings honey, vanilla, spice, light citrus and red apple aromas -- essentially a characteristics from each of the grapes. Chardonnay brings some body while the aromatic grapes deliver lemon, ripe tropical fruit and spice on the palate, and there's just enough acidity for your turkey dinner. 87/100

 

TRIVENTO 2009 AMADO SUR

(Mendoza, Argentina -- $14.49, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Plum, blackberry, perfume and clove notes show nicely on the nose of this Argentine red (mostly Malbec with some Bonarda and Syrah thrown into the mix). It's a full-bodied red, with rich plum and blackberry notes on the chewy palate, some light tannins and a bit of heat on the medium finish. This ain't no turkey wine, but if you're having something heartier, give it a go. 88/100

uncorked@mts.net twitter.com/thegrapenut

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 8, 2011 E4

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Updated on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 12:57 PM CDT: adds photo

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