Why BC Will Pay More for Less Liquor Choice - And The Double Price BC Charges For One California Wine

BC Liquor Stores - $42.90 + TAX = $49.44 CDN price

San Francisco corner store - $17.99 US or $24.06 CDN price

Local wineries could face supermarket squeeze while consumers swallow the cost.

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Vancouver / The Tyee column 

Tuesday December 1, 2015

By Bill Tieleman

"I've seen the future, I can't afford it." 

- ABC, "How to Be a Millionaire," 1985

The future is indeed unaffordable for wine, beer and spirits drinkers in British Columbia, because what are already the highest prices in North America are doomed to rise even more while B.C. wines get squeezed off the shelves.

Why? Government policy of course.

The BC Liberals are creating a brave new world of increasingly pricey alcoholic beverages under the guise of "convenience."

But B.C. liquor prices are already far too expensive -- take the example of just one bottle of wine that costs double here what you can buy it for in California.

In San Francisco in August in a nondescript corner store on Haight Street, I bought a bottle of excellent Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for US$17.99. In Canadian dollars that's $24.06.

In BC Liquor Stores, the regular price is $42.90 -- plus 10 cent deposit, 10 per cent PST and five per cent GST adding $6.44 for a final price of $49.44!

The B.C. price is $25.38 more -- over twice the San Francisco price -- for the same wine.

And while that Beringer wine costs more in Quebec than San Francisco, at $37.25 including taxes -- it's still $12.19 cheaper than in B.C. And in Ontario it's $39.95 or $9.49 cheaper.

And it's not just because Beringer make their wine in California. Across the country there's Allendale Wine Shoppe in New Jersey, where you get a bottle of the exact same wine for US$18.90 plus taxes of US$1.32 for a total of just US$20.22 -- or CDN$27.04.

To add insult to injury, the BC Liquor Stores website notes that it has sold Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon since 1989, when the price was CDN$21.70.

That means the San Francisco wine price in August 2015 was only CDN$2.36 a bottle more than in B.C. a stunning 26 years ago in 1989.

Small winery squeeze?

The Beringer price isn't necessarily the model for all B.C. wine pricing over the past two and a half decades -- but it isn't unique either.

And as bad as that is, things will soon get far worse.

That's because B.C. is starting to sell wine in supermarkets and in every jurisdiction in the world, once that starts, those stores dominate the market and crush smaller competitors.

The only ones to benefit will be supermarket owners -- not cold beer and wine stores, not independent wine outlets, not government liquor stores, not corner groceries and most of all, definitely not consumers -- who will pay more and have less choices.

In Australia, a new report says just two supermarket chains account for 70 per cent of all wine sales.

New Zealand grocery giants similarly went from no share of the wine market in the 1980s to nearly 70 per cent in a very short period of time, according to one B.C. lawyer.

And despite B.C.'s stated intention to only allow provincial wines to be sold in supermarkets, California, Chile and the European Union have all said the rules violate international trade agreements -- in other words, the world's wines, not just those from B.C., will no doubt end up in supermarkets.

That will mean small B.C. wineries with higher production costs than giant corporate brands like Yellow Tail or Gallo will get squeezed out of both sales and shelf space.

"Go down a grocery aisle to the ketchup section. What do you see there? Heinz, dominating the shelves," said Kim Pullan of Church and State winery in August. "I see the same thing happening to B.C. wine."

The bad, ugly and 'on sale'

Consumers might potentially benefit from free enterprise competition driving prices down but not here -- because the BC Liberals aren't opening the market up -- they're instead managing it to help bigger businesses take more market share without competing on price.

And the government will maintain it's huge revenue stream from overtaxing alcohol.

It's a bleak situation for those who drink wine, beer and spirits and those brave souls who produce it here in B.C.

But not according to Premier Christy Clark's deputy chief of staff, Michele Cadario.

"You can bet that this government will fight very strongly for this industry and we would never do anything that would unnecessarily jeopardize it," Cadario told a gathering of winery and liquor store owners in Penticton in October without a hint of irony.

"For the premier and this government, the B.C. wine industry is hugely important," Cadario told an event organized by the BC Alliance for Smart Liquor Retail Choices. "We know how jobs are tied to this and we know how passionately the wine industry really feel."

It is tempting to see how the government really feels about B.C. wineries by filing a freedom-of-information request for all Cadario's communications on the subject -- but that would be a waste of time -- because Cadario has been cited by the Information and Privacy Commissioner for deleting virtually all her emails.

The government does have its defenders. The BC Wine Institute says the move to place only B.C. wines in grocery shelves is "dramatically changing the business outlook for the better" and claims it will not negatively impact public or private stores.

That's highly unlikely. Both the Alliance and the BC Government and Service Employees Union called in late September for a six-month moratorium on issuing new supermarket wine licenses -- to no avail.

The only tiny bit of good news? If you really still want that Beringer, it's on sale for $4 off in B.C. till Jan. 2 -- for "just" $38.90 plus tax.

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Red, red Spanish wine picks to warm up the cold wet weather of fall - Wine Barbarian recommendations for vino tinto!

Viva Espana when it comes to warming up the cold wet weather of fall!  Excellent and affordable Spanish red wines to take the chill off November. 

It's wet, it's cold and it's definitely not summer anymore!  Baseball's World Series has ended, days are way too short and nights too long - so what to do?

Drink Spanish wine!  Bottled sunshine is the cure for the autumnal awfulness.

And fortunately for us, there are many high value yet relatively low cost wines from Spain to warm up your evening and cheer up your chilliness.

I've long been a big fan of Spanish wines - perhaps my first bottled love.

And here in BC and beyond, Spain rules as the country that produces the wines that provide the best value for money, not to mention pure, unadulterated joy.

So please let me recommend a few personal favourites - and also advise you to try other Spanish specialties - always enjoyable whether in the $10 or $100 plus range.

Bierzo is one of the hottest wine regions in Spain - and not for their weather - it's the high quality bottles that they export. 

The 2011 Losada Vinos de Finca in Bierzo is a fantastic example.  Rated 92 points out of 100 by the Wine Spectator, this is a pure finesse wine with dark chocolate, black cherry, smoke and herb notes.  

Made from the Mencia grape - as opposed to Spain's well known Tempranillo - this medium-bodied wine is simply outstanding - and remarkable for $22.99 a bottle in BC plus tax.  

But don't delay - there are only a few hundred bottles left in BC Liquor Stores.  

 

2011 Losada from Bierzo

Bierzo is in the north west of Spain - and several other great wines from the region are available in BC and Canada.  

Another great wine is the 2011 Eternum Viti from Bodegas Albanico in the Toro region of Spain.  This is a big, bold Tempranillo - called "Tinta de Toro" locally - that will warm your heart and soul.  And not just with its sun-quenched 14.5% alcohol, though that helps!

2011 Eternum Viti from Toro

Dark berry fruit, smoke and coffee among other complex bouquet tastes gives it a wonderful nose.  Stephen Tanzer rates it 90 points and previous vintages have all rated 90 or 91 by Robert Parker.  I concur and especially for $21.99 plus tax in BC Liquor Stores.

There's amazingly still some bottles of a wine I've previously recommended - the fantastic 2008 Besslum from Monsant region in Spain.  
At just $17.99 a bottle plus tax in BC Liquor Stores, this may be the best bargain in the province.  Rated 93 points by Robert Parker, it is a powerhouse wine with years in the bottle - try even finding a 2008 vintage from California, BC or France - let along at this amazing low price.  

There are still hundreds of bottles left - don't miss out on this high value dynamic wine.  Here's how the winemakers describe this one:
"Besllum has a deep dark color with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, exotic spices, lavender, mineral, and pain grille. Concentrated with a full body and flavors reminiscent of sweet fruit. There is just enough acidity to carry the flavor through the long, supple finish."

It is made up of three grapes: Carinena 45%, Garnacha 45%, Syrah 10%" Lastly, sorry for the long layoff on posts by the Wine Barbarian - rest assured I was doing a lot of research but not enough writing on wine!  

I won't promise to do better....but I will do my best to post more and more often - cheers!

Supermarkets Win Big in BC's New Liquor Landscape - Higher Wine, Beer and Spirits Prices, Lower Service, Less Selection Ahead

Supermarkets will end up running BC's liquor business in the long run

'Machiavellian' plan could harm union and non-union liquor workers.

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Vancouver / The Tyee column

Tuesday March 24, 2015

By Bill Tieleman

"If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker."

- Rounders poker movie, 1998.

Forget about alleged BC Liberal government "incompetence" handling impending April 1 liquor price increases, Sunday openings for government stores or anything else. It's all a red herring.

There is only one fundamental shift coming in B.C liquor policy and it is enormous, replacing the existing system of public and private beer, wine and spirits stores with a near-monopoly for supermarkets.

There is no real incompetence -- it's simply a distraction to fool the suckers.

What does exist is a Machiavellian plan to eventually wipe out most private and publicly owned liquor stores and move the majority of booze sales to grocery stores.

The BC Liberals are picking winners and losers with its policies, which are far from free enterprise -- since the "competition" is government-controlled.

And the benefits the B.C. government gets are huge: continue to reap windfall profits from North America's highest liquor prices while jettisoning unionized labour costs in government stores and the troublesome patchwork quilt of small private stores.

The strategy is cunning and deceptive, with an allegedly consumer-friendly face promising "convenience" while increasing government profits and making sure the suckers -- the customers paying far too much per bottle already -- even thank you for it!

BC Liberal attorney general Suzanne Anton announced the changes in March 2014 as part of the government's "modernization" of liquor laws.

Supermarkets win

After recent talks with a wide range of people from private and government stores, liquor import agents, restaurants and bars and other players, the realization is sinking in that the only true winners are the ones not yet sitting at the table -- supermarkets.

But they are about to be dealt a winning hand by government and the pot is huge -- B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch sales net the province $1.2 billion -- on gross sales of about $3 billion.

And wine sales alone in B.C. passed the $1 billion mark in 2014.

Not all in the industry are ready to speak on the record but Jeff Guignard, executive director of the Alliance of Beverage Licensees of B.C., was.

"If supermarkets get a full suite of products, it's private stores and government stores that will suffer -- that will lose sales," Guignard said in an interview with The Tyee in mid-March. "Sixty-five to 70 per cent of wines in open markets get sold in grocery stores."

Guignard predicts that supermarket liquor stores will trigger a clash between remaining private and public outlets.

"Then government stores will fight harder against the private stores," he says. "But private stores employ 10,000 people -- why would you put that at risk?"

The government offers two models for grocery store sales -- buy an existing private or public liquor store and relocate within the supermarket or sell only B.C. wines on existing supermarket shelves.

But that latter plan is already under siege by winemakers in other countries like the United States, who say it violates several trade agreements.

Guignard has no doubt foreign wineries will win.

"There will be huge pressure to open grocery stores to all wines -- not just B.C. wines," he told me. "Ultimately, less B.C. wine will be sold, not more."

Prices to rise

That's because the big wineries and their agents will demand supermarkets give them premium shelf space, promotional deals, advertising and other marketing advantages that a small B.C. winery simply can't offer. And with French, American, Italian, Spanish and other big wine producers enjoying huge economies of scale, B.C. wines will cost more.

The union representing government liquor store workers actually applauded the new BC Liberal policies, including allowing government stores to open on Sundays, have longer hours and sell cold beer and wine -- all of which will hurt private store sales.

But B.C. Government and Service Employees Union members' jobs are not really secure beyond the expiry dateof their current contract in 2019.

And government stores' ability to compete with supermarkets while paying workers considerably more in wages and benefits than grocery store clerks make is questionable at best, given that B.C. is implementing a single wholesale price for all stores as of April 1. 

Previously there were separate discounted wholesale prices for different private liquor store categories but now there's just one -- and public stores are being told to compete or close.

The supermarkets are gearing up -- food giant Loblaws has lobbyists registered on liquor issues and others are likely to follow.

Just like the "incompetence" of BC Liberal government "Happy Hour" changes that actually increased drink prices -- and helped big bar chains compete with small independent pubs, this move reeks of calculated risk.

None of it will happen overnight -- that would be too obvious, too dangerous. It will take place over a few years.

And there is still a chance the BC Liberals will bail out at the last moment, as they did after promising complete privatization in 2002. Back then, the government reneged after many LRS owners and investors spent serious money preparing to see government liquor stores closed and their own stores expand or new ones established.

Then-finance minister Gary Collins and then-premier Gordon Campbell got cold feet when they saw big risks to the government's liquor sales revenue stream after the BC Liberals' vaunted 25 per cent income tax cut blew a giant hole in the budget and forced a 0.5 per cent sales tax increase to compensate. Risking a big dip in liquor income just to keep a political promise was too big a stake then.

This time, the only outside chance of public and small private stores surviving this game is if consumers get wise to being played for suckers -- to protest the coming higher prices, smaller selection from fewer suppliers and reduced service.

But the BC Liberals, just like governments in other jurisdictions, believe that you won't care that you are paying several dollars more for the convenience of buying beer, wine and spirits in your local grocery store.

Or that if you do notice, you'll just sigh and have another drink rather than do anything about it.

British Columbia "Chaos Cocktail" Of Liquor Law Changes Will Mean Higher Wine, Beer, Liquor Prices, Squeeze Out Small Business, Says Angry Industry & Critic

Vancouver International Wine Festival 2015 - Bill Tieleman photo

Consumers and $1-billion industry is growing 'very very nervous.'

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Vancouver / The Tyee column

Tuesday March 3, 2015

By Bill Tieleman

"If the price goes up one penny from what it is now, all hell is going to break loose." 

- Bill Eggert, Fairview Cellars winery owner, Oliver, B.C.

There was just one black cloud on the sunny horizon as 25,000 people attended Vancouver International Wine Festival events last week, but it was huge: Why is the British Columbia government threatening the $1 billion wine industry?

Astonishingly, that's exactly what's happening.

Just as this province hit an enormous milestone, with wine sales topping the $1 billion mark for the first time ever, changes to wine, beer and liquor pricing coming April 1 seem to guarantee that "all hell is going to break loose."

The BC Liberal government's endless and incompetent meddling with the liquor industry will lurch forward towards potential price increases for both wines from provincial wineries and those imported from France, Italy, the United States, Spain and many more countries -- on April 1.

Even worse for winery owners, private and public liquor stores, wine agents and restaurants -- the government is keeping its retail pricing plans mostly a secret deeper and darker than a bottle of old vines Zinfandel.

And it has also introduced a relocation "lottery" to decide how and who gets to move existing private liquor stores into supermarkets -- for potentially huge profits.

All this uncertainty is happening even as an international study concludes that Canada is the seventh-largest wine consumer in the world, with a market valued at US$6.1 billion. And Canada is now the sixth-largest wine importer globally.

But that's all at risk as liquor industry sources tell The Tyee that wine prices are almost bound to go up -- despite already being the highest in North America and despite the government's partial retreat on pricing connected to its controversial move to a single wholesale price for all retailers, including B.C. Liquor Stores.

Stores will suffer

And an analysis of available information by wine lawyer Mark Hicken indicates that both government liquor and independent wine stores will suffer.

Hicken wrote that one of the predicted effects on Independent Wine Stores (IWS) and government stores is that independent stores "will have to raise their prices as their wholesale prices will go up significantly for every price point. The government has indicated that end consumer prices in government stores will stay the same," Hicken wrote on his WineLaw.ca website Feb. 15.

"However, for this to be achieved, the government stores would have to stick to a margin of 15-16 per cent for wines above about $20. As noted above, this margin is below their declared operating costs and it would mean that the stores would lose money on these sales."

And Hicken says the result could be that B.C. Liquor Stores will cut the number of wines they carry that are priced over $20 to avoid losing money.

"It is possible that government stores may seek to shift their product mix to lower price points in order to create sustainable margins," he concludes.

In other words -- the new B.C. government imposed system means higher prices and lower selection are likely -- and that amazingly, stores could actually lose money selling more expensive wine!

Only in B.C., you say?

Some prices rise

Hicken thinks it's possible the very cheapest wines sold in Licensee Retail Stores -- more commonly called cold beer and wine stores -- might go down slightly in price but that wines over $20 will go up because wholesale prices will increase, so their prices may not change much overall.

Left out in the cold are 12 independent wine stores that are seeing the most dramatic change in pricing -- which they say threatens their very existence -- without being given the chance to sell beer or spirits or sell wine to restaurants to compensate for the new structure.

And restaurants, hotels and bars are also disadvantaged, as they still have to pay the full retail price for wine, beer and liquor despite selling significant volumes. That also means their prices will likely rise considerably.

Licensee Retail Stores are also unhappy, because the BC Liberal plan will allow government stores to stay open Sundays and install refrigeration to compete with private stores.

It's a mess -- and Attorney General Suzanne Anton is behind it all.

Anton's intent on Jan. 30 when she cut by 40 per cent a previously announced 67 per cent markup for wine was an effort to quell strong opposition to her plans and "to better align the new wholesale prices with the prices the industry sees today."

"Our wholesale pricing model is not intended to increase government revenue or retail prices. Rather, the model is designed to generate approximately the same amount of government revenue from each product category as we receive today," Anton said in a release.

But the reality is likely very far from Anton's stated goals.

And the uncertainty and fear created by her clumsy moves is making a $1 billion industry -- and the growing number of B.C. wine drinkers who have built it -- very, very nervous.

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Happy Malbec World Day! Celebrate April 17 with a Malbec from Argentina, France, BC or anywhere!

Today is Malbec World Day - a day to celebrate the Malbec grape that makes delicious wines in countries around the globe.

But it is Argentina that invented Malbec World Day to help promote its flagship varietal, a grape that thrives in South America.

There are many good and great Malbecs available in British Columbia - pick one out for tonight's meal or just a glass.

Personally, I'm going to open one of my favourites - the 2011 Vina Cobos Bramare Malbec from the Lujan de Cuyo appellation.  It is rated 91 points by the Wine Spectator and 90 by Robert Parker.

And it is a premium wine - BC Liquor Stores sell it for $39.19 before taxes - so about $45.  There are 370 bottles available in 30 stores across BC and you may also find it in private wine stores.

Cinnamon and smoke, cassis and cherry, blueberry - loads of flavour!

It is a fantastic wine and if you try it I believe you will completely agree with me that it is special.

But you can celebrate Malbec World Day with much more modestly priced Malbecs and still be very happy indeed.  

Norton's Malbec Reserva 2011 from Mendoza in Argentina is still in some BC Liquor Stores and on sale for $15.69 plus taxes - about $20 and is on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2013 - ranked 92 points!  And if the 2012 is on the shelf, it's rated 90 points - so you're still doing really well.

Malbec is to me the quintessential steak wine - but it is very flexible and goes with many foods - meat or vegetarian.

So crack open a Malbec and celebrate - tonight or anytime!

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Must-visit tables at the Vancouver International Wine Festival this afternoon and tonight - Saturday

This represents less than a half-hour's worth of wine to taste at the VIWF!

Okay - it's the last day of one of North America's biggest and best consumer's wine event - the Vancouver International Wine Festival - and you're going!  

So what are you going to consume?

The theme is Australia - so lots of wineries are here that don't ordinarily make it to our shores.

But there are some countries who have really brought their best game - and best wines - so you don't want to go Aussie-only.

And there's only 2 hours in the afternoon tasting or 3 hours in the evening to taste wines: that means you have to be super strategic - and that's where the Wine Barbarian comes in!

I have been attending events all week - not that I've visited anywhere near all the 170 wineries or tasted the 750+ wines at the International tastings - but I've made a good try!

So here are some of my must-visit tables and wines - with no offence to any winery that I did or did not visit previously - and I'll be there tonight to find new gems, so follow me on Twitter at @BillTieleman and check the hashtag #VIWF to see what my colleagues and other consumers are drinking and raving about.

Meanwhile, don't miss these - and make sure you realize that the Australia section is organized by region, NOT alphabetical:

Inland Trading Co:  Greg Corra, Managing Director, is a regular at VIWF and always brings the best from Barrossa Valley - but he has outdone himself this year!  The most expensive wine in the room is also perhaps the most delicious - Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2005 - at at stunning $429 a bottle.  You read that right and it's being poured for the people - most impressive.  

Greenock Creek 2005 Shiraz

Ranked at 98 points by Robert Parker, saying: "It presents and incredible array of pronounced spice, earth, floral and savory aromas: blackberry preserves, dried mulberries, coffee, grilled duck, vanilla, cloves, fenugreek, violets and dried rose petals plus some shavings of dark chocolate."  

I didn't get all that but I did get bloody marvellous!  And that's after you taste the remarkably good Charles Cimicky Trumps Shiraz 2012 for just $24 - a bargain - and the 3 Rings Shiraz 2012 which is even more affordable at $20.

But Greg also brought another showstopper to the table - his Jasper Hill Shiraz 2012 at $100 a bottle - stunningly good.  That makes this the place to visit.  And Inland Trading also has another awesome Greenock Creek Shiraz - the Apricot Block - at the Epicurious Table along with a Charles Cimicky Autograph Shiraz that's delicious and a Phillip Shaw No. 11 Chardonnay and The Conductor Merlot nearby that you will enjoy.

Damilano - from Piedmont, Italy has brought not one but four great Barolos to taste - and three of them are $95 each!  All beautiful and different - plus a Moscato d'Asti 2013.  Whether you prefer the Brunate - my fave - or the Cannubi or the Cerequio or the Lecinquevigne, you will have to admit they are each fantastic!

Three of Damilano's great Barolos.

Silver Oak Cellars/Twomey Cellars - from Napa Valley has also a real treat - not one but two of California's most highly regarded Cabernet Sauvignons - the Silver Oak Alexander Valley 2010 and the Napa Valley 2009 - both delicious.  In addition, try the Twomey Sauvignon Blanc 2013 and Merlot 2010 - you won't be disappointed at this table!

Savour Australia - BC Liquor Stores special table - what a one-stop shop this is - all rare Aussie wines that are only here for the show - and not to be missed!  When my friend David Hopgood - the former buyer for the Liquor Stores and now a consultant - says go there, I do - and thank goodness!  There are 11 fabulous whites and reds that you must taste - from a great Bellwether Chardonnay 2011 at $43 from Tasmania to a Bindi Kostas Rind Chardonnay 2013 from the Macedon Ranges area that reminds of Chablis to a beautiful Moorooduc Robinson Pinot Noir 2012 from Mornington that simply stuns at $50 to a huge, jammy, giant Jamsheed Garden Gully Shiraz 2013 from the Great Western region of Central Victoria - you will be mightily impressed!  And head to the onsite store quickly to get any. 

Penfolds - the big boy of Aussie wines does not disappoint - particularly try their Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2010 at $70 and their Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 2010 - one of my favourites at $40. 

Stina - it means stone and they come from the island of Brac in Croatia!  Four fascinating wines all well worth tasting - from the Posip 2013 white at $50 to the Plavac Mail Majstor 2010 red at $60 and the Plavac Mail Barrique 2010 at $45 to a unique Prosek 2011 dessert wine blend at $100 they are all delicious.  And what a great opportunity to taste a wine you've likely never encountered before.

Canada is well represented and brought some fine wines too.  Make sure to visit the Okanagan's Painted Rock Estate Winery - the Red Icon 2012 especially at $55; Cassini Cellars with The Godfather at $70 commanding your attention; Laughing Stock with its always great Portfolio 2012 at $45 and Poplar Grove with its Legacy at $50, plus many others from BC.

Duckhorn - some more great wines from Napa Valley - especially their Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2011 - but a great table all round.

Signorello - almost a BC wine because Ray Signorello Jr. is partly from West Vancouver.  Their Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 is smooth and great at $98; the Vieille Vignes Chardonnay 2013 is balanced and beautiful and the Seta 2013 Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc is always great.

Well - time is up for me but as I said, check my Tweets out on Twitter @BillTieleman and the #VIWF Twitter hashtag for even more tips today and tonight!  

Hope to see you there tonight - say hi if you spot me!

Cheers - Bill Tieleman, the Wine Barbarian

Bill Tieleman - the Wine Barbarian - at Romanee-Conti in Burgundy

Still a few Saturday Vancouver International Wine Festival events with tickets left for Saturday afternoon - don't miss out!

The Table of Temptation - for me - Damilano brought three $95  delicious Barolos for you to taste!    

It's Saturday - and if you don't act fast, the Vancouver International Wine Festival will be history for 2015!

But amazingly, there are still 3 excellent opportunities this afternoon to have a few glasses of the best wines in the world - especially from Australia.

Saturday afternoon's International Wine Tasting from 3 to 5 p.m. is still available - two hours of tasting the best wines from around the world for just $68 - so get online or on the phone to 604-873-3311 to buy your tickets.

Friday's Montes: 25 Years and Beyond wines seminar with winemaker Aurelio Montes, right, and host David Scholefield, left.

Friday's Montes: 25 Years and Beyond wines seminar with winemaker Aurelio Montes, right, and host David Scholefield, left.

And there's a McLaren Vale Scarce Earth seminar for $55 at 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. or at the same time a Mod Oz seminar for $45.  Both sound great - the first on the famed McLaren Vale area of Australia and its wines; the second on modern Australian winemaking techniques - and the tasty results.

The Festival has been great - loads of fantastic wines from Australia and many other countries, informative seminars where you drink and learn - and you would be remiss to not take this last chance to find out for yourself!

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