Why red tape makes it impractical for N.S. bar to bring in wine from Ontario vineyard [Video]

Andrew Connell wants to bring in an Ontario wine to the Halifax bar he co-owns, but he says the legislated process makes it impractical.

To get wine from Rosewood Estates Winery in the Niagara region, Connell can’t contact the vineyard directly. Instead, he has to do a special order through the NSLC.

“Why there needs to be a middleman in that scenario, I’m not really sure, especially one that’s going to increase the cost of that product and damage our margins,” said the Bar Stillwell co-owner.

The general manager of the Ontario vineyard that Connell wants to get wine from is equally bothered by the process. William Roman said they would have to discount their products substantially to sell it to the NSLC, who would in turn mark it up and then sell it to Stillwell.

“The whole chain doesn’t make any sense,” Roman told CBC’s Hanomansing Tonight. “The only people …