Posted October 26, 2025 | Lightning Rock Winery, Summerland, BC
We’re proud to see important conversations about the future of Canadian wine gaining national attention.
Two recent articles, one by Douglas Hart, President of Hart & Associates, and another by John Iveson at The National Post featuring Ron Kubek, highlight the urgent need to modernize Canada’s approach to direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine sales and remove long-standing interprovincial trade barriers.
In his Food in Canada article, Douglas Hart outlined the challenges Canadian wineries face in selling directly to consumers across provincial borders, noting that while international trade continues to expand, free trade still doesn’t truly exist within our own country. The federal DTC framework, set to take effect in May 2026, is a step forward, but many small wineries can’t afford to wait that long.
Meanwhile, John Iveson The National Post shone a spotlight on Ron Kubek’s tireless advocacy for BC wineries, including the realities faced by small, family-run producers like Lightning Rock. Ron’s leadership has been instrumental in ensuring our region’s voice is heard in the national dialogue, standing up for fairer, more accessible pathways for Canadian-made wines to reach Canadian consumers.