Future wine post idea. Buying wine direct from importers. In the days when LCBO did in store tastings and wine education was part of in-store consultants job I became friends with the consultant, who now works for a small importer that represents a few wines in the LCBO but a larger number imported for restaurants and small bottle shops. We now buy some wine directly through her. Most importers offer direct sales although the catch is frequently a 6 or 12 bottle minimum, sometimes of a single wine but most allow mixed cases. HST is usually added rather than included in the listed price. The advantage is the choice as they supply restaurants and small retailers they can import wines from smaller producers in volumes too small for the LCBO to be interested in. You don't have to visit many winerys to realize some of the best wine comes from the smallest producers.
Thanks for the insight, Mike. We're really at the mercy of the LCBO here in Ontario. Thankfully, things have opened up a bit in the last few years with restaurants and other retailers opening bottle shops. Sadly, the requirement* for importers to sell in cases of 12 or 6 makes that option a challenge for the average person (unless, as you say, they allow for mixed cases.)
*I was told by a wine importer that this is indeed a requirement by the LCBO, not something they themselves impose.
Hi Leslie glad to be add to the list enjoying each new post.
Future wine post idea. Buying wine direct from importers. In the days when LCBO did in store tastings and wine education was part of in-store consultants job I became friends with the consultant, who now works for a small importer that represents a few wines in the LCBO but a larger number imported for restaurants and small bottle shops. We now buy some wine directly through her. Most importers offer direct sales although the catch is frequently a 6 or 12 bottle minimum, sometimes of a single wine but most allow mixed cases. HST is usually added rather than included in the listed price. The advantage is the choice as they supply restaurants and small retailers they can import wines from smaller producers in volumes too small for the LCBO to be interested in. You don't have to visit many winerys to realize some of the best wine comes from the smallest producers.
Thanks for the insight, Mike. We're really at the mercy of the LCBO here in Ontario. Thankfully, things have opened up a bit in the last few years with restaurants and other retailers opening bottle shops. Sadly, the requirement* for importers to sell in cases of 12 or 6 makes that option a challenge for the average person (unless, as you say, they allow for mixed cases.)
*I was told by a wine importer that this is indeed a requirement by the LCBO, not something they themselves impose.