Oakvillian

Vintages is just the posh version of LCBO - slightly wider selection, slightly more knowledgeable staff. The BC equivalent would be the "signature" BC Liquor stores - list is here

ann m

I don't think so - but then I am happy with a fairly cheap selection and I am suffering from withdrawal symptoms here !

Howard1944

They send out a very nice magazine announcing their next releases, it let's you prepare for their release, the good ones go very quickly.

dbd33

Every time I think "surely that'll do 'til the weekend" but it doesn't. Someone in this house drinks a lot.

Howard1944

dbd33, one trick I learned was to buy some wines in the $50 range, it makes them difficult just to quaff.

i have about a dozen Cognacs and Scotches bought when they were a 1/4 of what they are now, I just can't bring myself to open a $400 bottle.

My Dom cost me $50, now it's $200, the kids will have a nice selection when they set themselves up and No , I won't adopt you.

blueRussell

Due to the strict government/provincial controls the wine you can get in Canada is overpriced and the choice is minimal. Despite the fact that California is much closer to Ottawa than the UK the same wine will be cheaper in the UK than here. And the wine I brought over is priced at about $1000.00US per bottle, can’t even find it in Canada.

At the LCBO we had to pay $1.00 per 750ml bottle plus 6% GST and $0.20 deposit per 750ml bottle. With the 11 bottles (declared) this was $13.86.

At the customs office we paid about $40.00 import duty (I can’t find the paperwork for the exact amount). This was based on the value of the wine. It was basically GST & PST. Again I was not forthcoming with the value of the wine. That’s one good thing about bringing in wine not available in Canada. The customs officers can’t readily establish its true value. Not that they looked like the even cared.

Russ...

Howard1944

http://www.opim.ca/

For those who love the Grape

Howard1944

Russel, the LCBO in Collingwood is the size of a Basket Ball Court, how much choice do you need??

I don't buy US Wines, but if I wanted more selection, the States is only a couple of hours drive.

I am not into overly priced Bordeaux's, I prefer New World Reds, and I have no problemo finding interesting choices under $20.

I have about 30 French that will go to my son when he sets up his place, start him off right.

Do you decant your wine , let it breath for about an hour.

dbd33

As with all things government it all depends. A French restaurant we used to go to (Select Bistro on the up itself bit of Queen) moved. Somehow the act of moving meant that the wine in the cellar nominally arrived in Ontario at the moment of moving (presumably the wine had been in the cellar since before the current laws). The owner had to pay the duties on the wines based on their value and, when I lost track of the story, was faced with having to pour away the bottles for which no current retail value could be established. Priceless and valueless are synonyms here.

dbd33

The complaint is that the same wines are under $10 elsewhere in the world. I had to laugh at a wine I know to cost $22 at the LCBO being $6 at a gas station in Nebraska. Bon vivants all, them Nebraskans.

blueRussell

The LCBO is a monopoly and therefore no competition results in high prices. As for choice, if the LCBO in Collingwood is the same as in Ottawa then a basket ball sized store just means there will be lots of the wines it does have. This isn’t the same as having lots of variety.

But anyway, as I don’t particularly like wine (apart from dessert wine) the limited choice isn’t really an issue. Though I can’t see why the purchase of alcohol cannot be conducted in a supermarket.

Cheers

Russ...

Howard1944

The distribution of Beer and Alcohol in Ontario makes no sense, it is costly and totally inefficient, but successive Governments are afraid to take on the challenge of the unions.

We can only hope that at some time sanity will rule and distribution will be along European lines.

Biiiiink

Don't hold out for beer in McDonalds...

daft batty

We've taken to buying nongrape wine from the Buckhorn Winery (by we, I mean me, as OH doesnt drink) They make some pretty good wines there, plum, raspberry, goldenrod and my favourite - frosted pumpkin. Though I have had to complain about that on several occasions as it seems to give you a headache the next day..................
http://www.kawarthacountrywines.ca/winery.html

daft batty

you mean delivered in crates milkman style? excellent!