For nine decades – since prohibition ended – the LCBO has had a long standing monopoly on wine sales in the province.
But it will be coming to an end; the Liberal government has reached an agreement to allow the sales of wine in Ontario supermarkets.
According to the Toronto Star, in what appeared to be long time coming, the province will finally be able to approve 70 new privately run wine distribution outlets in local supermarkets this fall.
Thirty-five of these licences would be to sell strictly Ontario wines. This would give local VQA wines a head start over foreign competition during a three year phase-in period. Thereafter, all international wines could be sold in those supermarkets.
In addition to the Ontario-only outlets, the other 35 outlets will allow sales of international wines as well. The government also said that over the next few years the goal is to expand wine sales to a total of 150 supermarkets.
This uncorking of wine sales follows the government’s announcement that beer sales were allowed in select supermarkets in December, 2015.
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