Monthly Archives: May 2012

May 23 8-9pm PST: Corkage (Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine) to BC Restaurants

Posted on by
Reply

HERE’S HOW THE CHAT WENT:

CORKAGE (BRING YOUR OWN BOTTLE OF WINE) TO BC RESTAURANTS

In 2003 Alberta relaxed its liquor laws to allow for corkage–the ability for patrons to bring their own bottle of wine to participating restaurants, pay a pre-set corkage fee and open at their meal.  The following conditions apply (according to Alberta Gaming Liquor Control)

  • The licensee must post a schedule of corkage fees
  • The patron must hand over the wine to licensee staff immediately upon entering the premises
  • Licensee staff are responsible to bring the wine to the patron’s table, and to open and serve the wine.

When requested, all licensees are obligated to recork partially consumed bottles to be taken home by the customer. (Liquor Licensee Handbook 5.3.15 b).

A Wine Spectator survey in early 2011 showed that 25 of the 50 states in the US allowed for corkage–including our neighboring West Coast states of Washington, Oregon and California.

Why does British Columbia not allow for Corkage (or Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine) at BC restaurants yet?  What are the concerns from restaurants?  How have these concerns been addressed in other jurisdictions? Would allowing corkage help the wine culture in BC?

Join the chat on Wednesday for a certain fast-paced discussion.

May 16 8-9pm PST: Fire Up the Grill!

Posted on by
Reply

HERE’S HOW THE CHAT WENT:

FIRE UP THE GRILLl! May 16, 2012

May Long Weekend is here and it’s time to light up the BBQ for the summer.  Tell us about your favourite BBQ foods and suggest a BC wine to pair with it.   Don’t be shy about asking for pairing suggestions from the #BCWineChat audience, they love to tell you their favourites!  Recommendations for summer patio sippers for pre-and post meal libations also encouraged.  Let’s get #BCWine sizzlin’ this summer.

May 9, 2012 8-9pm PST: BC Wine and Farmer’s Markets

Posted on by
Reply

HERE’S HOW THE CHAT WENT:

BC WINE AND FARMERS MARKETS May 9, 2012

Most people understand that wine comes from grapes or fruits.  Everyone understands that grapes are a crop–grown in the ground.  Why is it that 100% BC grown wines cannot be tasted at BC Farmer’s Markets–let alone sold at them?  There are other jurisdictions that allow wine to be sold at local Farmer’s Markets such as Oregon so it can be done, but what laws are preventing our local producers of BC wines from doing the same?

Should there be restrictions on pouring samples?  Should there be restrictions on which wines would be allowed into a local farmer’s market or should that be left up to the organizers of the individual farmer’s markets to decide?  is there even a desire for wineries to present their wines at Farmer’s markets?

It is the season where local produce is becoming available and that means it’s also a great time to discuss why this particular local agricultural product–WINE–is left not allowed into BC’s farmer’s markets.

May 2, 8-9pm PST: A Chat about #BCWineChat

Posted on by
Reply

HERE IS HOW THE CHAT WENT: 

A CHAT ABOUT #BCWINECHAT May 2, 2012

What do you want to get out of #BCWineChat?  What kinds of topics do you want to explore and what would make this chat more useful to you?  It’s a chat about The Chat so come prepared with helpful suggestions to make this forum even more useful and ever-changing to people’s needs and expectations.