Starting this Saturday, BC Liquor Stores will offer their customers access to some of the best wines produced in British Columbia. These rare, sought-after wines are produced in small quantities and have limited availability in the marketplace.

"For the 2012 Best of BC release, we've dialled into the best of the best," said Stephen Schiedel, BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) portfolio manager for Wines of the Americas. "These wines are representative of what is state of the art in the B.C. wine scene and are worthy cellar dwellers for savvy buyers to snap up."

In addition, this year's release also offers an unprecedented opportunity to buy the 2012 Lieutenant Governor's Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wine Award winners. Customers will be able to choose from 11 premium wines - six of which are 2012 Lieutenant Governor's Award winners - from nine B.C. wineries.

To help customers make informed product selections, a Best of BC booklet is available on the Liquor Distribution Branch's website and in Signature BC Liquor Stores. The booklet features tasting notes and a vintage chart. In addition, British Columbia Wine Institute vintage reports for 2009 and 2010 are included.

A pre-release consumer event and tasting will be held on Friday, Oct. 12, at the 39th and Cambie BC Signature Liquor Store. Former LDB portfolio manager David Hopgood will join Stephen Schiedel at this event featuring six of the 2012 winners of the Lieutenant Governor's Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines.

Established in 2003, the objective of the Lieutenant Governor's Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wine Awards is to give more visibility and acknowledgement to British Columbia's best wines. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the awards are unique in the world of wine competitions, as only a handful of submissions are deemed to be truly excellent. For 2012, a record 347 wines were submitted by 94 wineries and only 11 wines were chosen.

Best of BC wines will be available in 25 Signature and select other BC Liquor Stores throughout the province. For a full list of participating stores, please visit: http://www.bcliquorstores.com/best-bc-release-special-wines-local-producers

Customers are advised to shop early to avoid disappointment. Limited quantities per customer will apply on all wines.

Media Contact :

Michele Mackintosh
Manager of Communications
BC Liquor Distribution Branch
604 252-3029
604 838-1105