Calgary, Alberta:
A coalition of industry associations representing Canadian wineries, restaurants, import agents, and Alberta retail and hospitality businesses are calling on the Government of Alberta to repeal its unfair and damaging ad valorem tax on wine.
“Implemented in 2025 without industry consultation, Alberta’s wine tax is driving up prices for Alberta consumers and small businesses, hurting Canadian wineries, and directly contradicting federal and provincial efforts to reduce interprovincial trade barriers.
Administered as an ad valorem markup structure through the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), Alberta’s wine tax adds an escalating percentage-based markup on wine sold in Alberta on top of the flat-tax markup.
Restaurants, retailers, agents, and wine producers all strongly oppose the introduction of Ad Valorem markup pricing to Alberta’s competitive flat-tax markup system.
The fees for the additional Alberta wine tax are 5% for wine valued between $15-20 per litre; 10% for any valued between $20-25 per litre; and 15% for $25 per litre and above. All wines over $11.25/750ml bottle are impacted by the additional tax.”
(Press Release Wednesday Jan 14 from Wine BC.)
Jeff Guignard, president and CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia, said the tax has significantly reduced sales from Canadian wineries into Alberta.
 Jeff Guignard “We’re seeing declines of up to 50 per cent in direct-to-consumer shipments to Albertans,” he said.
“It is now harder and more expensive to sell Canadian wine in Alberta than it has ever been.”
Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president of Restaurants Canada, warned the tax could set a precedent.
“We’re really worried this is a slippery slope,” he said.
“Ad valorem is now on wine. What’s going to come next as far as an ad valorem tax, which is going to make things a lot more expensive for Alberta consumers.”
This edition of Tasting Room Radio will attempt to explain and understand yet another tax on BC wines in Alberta.
Just as the feds are gathering provincial governments May 1 in hopes of freeing up wines crossing borders across Canada, along comes yet another jump in Alberta prices.
We’ve asked several key leaders to step forward and do their best to make sense of another neighborhood squabble. Is it a well constructed provincial government move or a naked cash grab at the expense of wineries and wine fans?
Our interview guests are:
Jeff Guignard – CEO & President of Wine BC.
www.winebc.com
Brad Royale – Corporate Sommelier Concorde Ent Group (Calgary)
www.concordgroup.ca / www.bradroyale.com
Al Drinkle – Partner MetroVino Fine Wines (Calgary)
www.metrovino.com
FYI – Wine BC Coalition includes:
Restaurants Canada
Wine Growers Canada
Alberta Liquor Store Association
Alberta Hospitality Association
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:
Victoria Whisky Festival
Vancouver Wine Festival
Follow up on Alberta Tax Story
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