Most people of Ontario assume that the Provincial Government does a wonderful job of supporting the local wine industry. I disagree. Over the past 20 years (since Free Trade, approximately) the major instrument of the government in the wine market, the LCBO, has seen or caused a serious decline in the market share of domestic wines at the LCBO.
The following charts are all sourced from LCBO Annual Reports and report information over time. Also remember that many current "listings" in the LCBO price book for domestic wines are limited to being available only in a few stores:
% of Domestic General Listings at LCBO # of Domestic vs. Imported General Listings at LCBO
% of Domestic General Litres Sold at LCBO # of Domestic vs. Imported Litres Sold at LCBO
% of Domestic Dollar Sales at LCBO # of Domestic vs. Imported Dollars Sold at LCBO
% domestic of non-advertising recommendations made in LCBO publications
WHAT CAN THE GOVERNMENT DO TO HELP?
At the LCBO they could institute this plan to support any small wineries currently shut out of the LCBO sales channel.
At a governmental level they could institute this plan to provide a hotline for any customer in Ontario asking for advice about Ontario wine. Providing expert advice to small wineries would help, as would access to farmer's markets - most civilized jurisdictions provide this channel to their small wineries.
A note about my logo on the charts...
WHAT CAN THE PUBLIC DO TO HELP?
The single best thing you can do to help the small wineries in Ontario is to go to your closest winery, buy some wine, pick up an apple pie and a block of local cheese. You'd be surprised how many wineries are located within a half hour of Highway # 401. The next best thing is to constantly ask your local LCBO people to bring in wines from smaller producers, and then support those by purchasing them. Buy local, not the type of imports that LCBO brings in (most of the top selling 50 imports sell more here than in their home country!). When in France buy French wine, in Italy buy Italian, in Canada buy Canadian.
Please write letters to the editor of newspapers, and by all means nag your various politicians, especially at the Provincial level. Ask for small wineries to be available at Farmers' Markets. One letter to the editor can do more to help than you would imagine. Your support is crucial. Arrange where possible that local wines and local foods are used at functions you are involved with.
Purchase Ontario wines not available through the LCBO There are alternatives...