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It appears the wine war has come to an end.
Alberta and B.C. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow Albertans to get their hands on wine straight out of B.C. The same is true for B.C. residents in acquiring wine from Alberta.
It's a move that the provincial government has already touted as an economic driver, with Albertans now having access to a wider selection under the province's fully privatized liquor industry.
"I’m pleased that wine will once again flow to Albertans doors. I appreciate the collaboration between our governments, which is set to continue through our agreement and joint working group," said Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith in a news release.
Dale Nally, the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction added, "We’re proud to be able to provide more choices for consumers of B.C. wines, but we are also proud to be leaders in improved provincial trade. We expect this arrangement to be a springboard that helps expand the trade of liquor and other products between our provinces."
The MOU comes after discussions from Alberta and B.C. officials trying to resolve tax issues from suppliers directly shipping to customers. Now, Albertans are allowed, for at least one year, to order their preferred suppliers to their doorstep.
Currently, B.C. has over 300 wineries operating which will mean more varieties of wine entering Alberta.