Anthony Gismondi: We are collateral damage in B.C. labour dispute and it needs to stop
The British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has once again taken to the streets, picketing various government offices, as well as the wholesale liquor monopoly and its 190+ B.C. Liquor Stores, inconveniencing the public while paradoxically asking the same public for a raise.
B.C. Liquor Stores have been a prime target of the union for decades, and while many think it could be that closing liquor stores can rile up the people and force the issue like no other government office, could there be a much longer game in play?
Back in 2009, the Times Colonist reported that Premier Christy Clark said government agreed to scrap the privatization of the Liquor Distribution Branch to reach a deal without adding to its deficit or cutting services, while then-union president Darryl Walker said cancellation of the sale of Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses is “the third time in 20-odd years that we’ve managed to stop the privatization and we think it’s the right thing to do. We think it’s got huge upsides now.”
Back then, getting a new wine from anywhere in the world listed and delivered to local retailers and restaurants took up to six to eight months, compared to six to eight days in the rest of the world and, frankly, not much has changed. As for the upsides, the monopoly did not offer e-commerce or home shipping at the time, and it still doesn’t, 16 years later.
There is nothing in the latest demands that serves the interests of British Columbians or the hospitality industry. We are all collateral damage, and it needs to stop. Make no mistake, buying a bottle of overtaxed alcohol in a government store is simply the pointy end of the pyramid. There are thousands of B.C. citizens operating in the hospitality businesses that are in jeopardy of not making the rent this month, or buying food for their family, or worse, losing their business outright.
According to Stacy Kyle, executive director of the Import Vintners & Spirits Association, the businesses that fill LDB shelves with wines and spirits from B.C. and around the world are in trouble.
“Behind closed warehouses lies more than inventory — it’s contracts, jobs, and the survival of B.C.’s independent businesses. When most people hear about the BCGEU strike, they picture closed liquor stores and empty shelves. But that’s not the full story. The real crisis is unfolding behind the scenes — and it’s devastating small, independent businesses across our province.”
Kyle goes on to talk about the human cost. “One family run agency has $190,000 worth of inventory locked inside warehouses, taxed and paid for, yet it remains idle while storage fees accumulate. Their September sales dropped by 50 per cent, and they’re relying on child benefits to buy groceries. Another importer cancelled all planned events with a winemaker who was to fly in from overseas at great expense. Hundreds of cases are stuck at customs, suppliers are left stranded, and months of planning and preparation have been erased.
“Tens of thousands of dollars in tastings, festivals, and promotions are wasted, while restaurants and private retailers miss out on the new product launches they were counting on for their fall menus and retail shelves. These are not inconveniences. They are existential threats.”
Make no mistake, the union knows what it is doing by shutting down stores just as 50 per cent of annual sales happen, and once the holiday season sales are lost, there is no getting them back.
At this point, I don’t think the public cares if the BCGEU remains on the picket lines or is locked out until January. Private businesses want access to their taxed and paid-for product sitting behind picket lines.
In contrast, the public wants better service and selection for its 87 per cent wholesale markup, a 30-40 per cent retail markup, another 10 per cent provincial liquor tax on all of that, plus a 5 per cent GST.
Weekend wine picks
Tantalus Pinot Gris Stoneridge Vineyard Oregon 2024, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States
$20.87 I 91/100
UPC:
696852162340
The 2024 freeze gave Tantalus a chance to look elsewhere for fruit and this Oregon Pinot Gris, the first ever Gris bottled at the property, is among the best replacement wines for 2024. It comes from the organically farmed Stoneridge Vineyard in Willamette’s Ribbon Ridge, planted in 1985. It was fermented in a variety of containers, including older barriques, puncheons and stainless steel tanks. The nose presents an attractive scent of pear, lemon, and grapefruit pith, complemented by a pleasant mineral undertone and a fresh finish. Love the balance here. Seafood, anyone? Stock up.
Selbach Riesling Fish Label 2022, Mosel, Germany
$22.99 I 90/100
UPC:
717215001707
The Fish Label is an off-dry Riesling made by the Selbachs, one of Germany’s oldest winemaking families, dating back to the 17th century. Its colourful label has had a terrific effect on the public, seemingly instantly reassuring them of their fears of Riesling. And why not? It is a fruity, aromatic white packed with florals, crunchy apple and peach that help stabilize the balance. There is that bright Mosel acidity and juiciness, which makes this wine a wine drinker’s dream for patio sipping or pairing with various southeast Asian dishes. It remains consistent year after year and is still a bargain at $23.
Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay McLean Creek Road Vineyard 2023, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
$33-$39 I 91/100
UPC:
808755006809
An Okanagan benchmark for style and enjoyment, the 2023 Chardonnay from winemaker Chris Carson has survived the heat of 2023 to give us another Meyer treat that sings Okanagan Falls in a way few others can. It has a somewhat abnormal light gold colour. Still, the wine retains its elegant profile, with a bright, lemony forepalate and a creamy, citrusy mid-palate, supported by a modest 22 per cent new oak. It is hard not to drink this wine now, so don’t bother to try. Look for it in private wine stores. Enjoy.
Moon Curser Touriga Nacional 2022, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
$46.99 I 91/100
UPC:
626990152736
A consistent star at Moon Curser, except for last year’s smoky edition, the 2022 is back on track in a big way. An opaque purple colour introduces you to a nose full of floral aromatics, including licorice and savoury black fruit. Power and concentration are the name of the game here, but with that not-so-surprising Okanagan acidity that keeps it fresh. As rich as the tannins are, the fruit is richer. Now you understand why this grape is so highly regarded in northern Portugal. It is a giant of wine, and I suspect it will live long and prosper in the bottle.
Hester Creek the Judge 2022, Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
$49.99 I 92/100
UPC:
626990112235
The Judge is made from old vines dating back to 1968, the final ’24 freeze outcome notwithstanding, and in 2022, it is really shining. Winemaker Mark Hopley has been refining the blend, the oak regime, and generally freshening up the wine, but perhaps its best attribute is its silky texture. The latest blend is 47 per cent Merlot, 34 per cent Cabernet Franc, 17 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 per cent Petit Verdot, and 1 per cent Malbec, aged 24 months in French oak. Fresher, tighter, with refined black fruit, cocoa, savoury dried spices, and cedar all come together to create a symphony that is polished to a T. The Judge continues to up its game among the elite reds in B.C.
Calendar and other items
• North Shore residents can visit Poplar Grove Winery in early November as they celebrate their 30th vintage. The Poplar Grove Vancouver Mingle takes place on Nov. 12, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at The Polygon Gallery, 101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver. The elegant evening in a gallery setting will feature light appetizers and curated wine stations. It is a standing reception, perfect for mingling and connecting with friends, all at a modest $40 per head. For tickets order, online at
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• The Drinks Business reports “American-made spirits exports plunged 9 per cent in Q2, with major declines in key markets such as Canada, the EU and Japan. Industry leaders warn that both trade tensions and a growing global move toward local brands may signal a deeper, structural change.” The slump in sales follows a previous year of strong growth, marked by steep drops in shipments to key export markets, which account for 70 per cent of America’s overseas trade in spirits. Exports to the EU, the largest market, dropped by 12 per cent to US$290.3 million, while shipments to Britain fell 29 per cent per cent to US$26.9 million. Those to Japan were 23 per cent lower at US$21.4 million. The most significant decline, however, was to Canada, with U.S. spirits plummeting 85 per cent in the quarter to under US$10 million. The concern for American producers is that their international consumers are increasingly opting for domestically produced spirits or imports from other countries.
B.C. wine of the week
Lightning Rock Blanc de Noirs Elysia Vineyard Traditional Method Brut Nature 2022, Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
$38.00 I 92/100
UPC:
626990364887
The Elysia style is delicate and restrained, with bright acidity and a persistent mid-palate of lemon and green apple, complemented by a unique mix of desert scrub and almond brioche that finishes bone dry. It works with creamy cheeses, vegetable tempura or beer can chicken. During the first fermentation, the Pinot Noir is whole-cluster pressed into neutral oak puncheons. The wine underwent complete malolactic fermentation and was aged for six months on lees before being bottled. It spent 16 months en tirage and is disgorged without dosage in August 2024.
Value Wine of the Week
Pewsey Vale Single Vineyard Estate Riesling 2024, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia
$24.99 I 91/100
UPC:
09311789000190
You can set your watch by this consistent Down Under Riesling grown among the famous contoured vines of Pewsey Vale. It is an Eden Valley benchmark and for good reason. It was first established in 1847, and the vines can tell stories that few others have had the privilege of experiencing. It is fermented in stainless steel, literally sharpening its fresh green apple, lemon grass, and lime juice, all with a salinity and stony minerality that begs for more. It is bone dry and intense, and will work with just about any food you can think of. A lesson in what is possible for less than $30.
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Source: vancouversun.com