L'Acadie Vineyards has bottled-up frustration over interprovincial trade barriers

A Nova Scotia winemaker was optimistic that Canada's premiers might come up with an overarching interprovincial trade agreement at their annual meeting in Whitehorse this week.

But so far, there's been no news on a deal.

• Provincial, territorial ministers agree to knock down trade barriers

"We're a Canadian winery, and we should be able to sell to Canadians right across Canada," said Bruce Ewert, owner of L'Acadie Vineyards in Gaspereau.

But the way things stand today, he can't. Ewert can ship his wine to consumers for personal consumption in Manitoba and British Columbia, but other provinces aren't so welcoming.

"At this point ... over 70 per centof the population in Canada is not in a legal position to order Canadian wine from outside their province," said Beth McMahon, vice-president of the Canadian Vintners Association.

"Quite simply they could include wine in a new agreement on internal trade and that issue would be addressed immediately," said McMahon.

A bill passed at the federal level in June 2012 that allows individuals to import wine across provincial borders for their personal use. However, provinces still maintain the right to regulate the sale and movement of wine and other alcohol.

'Hoping the other provinces reciprocate'

"I'm hoping the other provinces reciprocate, and open up their provinces so that we can ship directly to consumers, so Canadians can get our beautiful wine," said Ewert.

"All of a sudden we would ship a lot of wine. We would definitely expand, we can probably be double the size that we are right now," said Ewert. "We'd have to hire more people."

Nova Scotia also wants other provinces to catch up.

"Nova Scotia would like to see modernization in interprovincial trade by expanding the direct-to-consumer sales channel across the country so small producers have a greater opportunity to get their product into other provinces," saidSarah Gillis, the spokeswomanfor Intergovernmental Affairs.

It was PremierStephenMcNeil's intention to make it a priority at the meeting in Whitehorse.

"I think it's ludicrous we are trying to sign international trade agreements when we can't do it internally in the country," McNeil said before engaging in Thursday's talks.

• Federal government backs move to liberalize flow of alcohol between provinces

Visitors to L'Acadie Vineyards agreed.

"I think it's totally ridiculous that we can get wines from all over the world, in our own country we have these trade barriers, which make no sense," said Harvey Goldberg, from Toronto.

"By the time we finish off this bottle when we're back home, we'll probably want some more, and we won't be able to get it. It's frustrating," said Tom Cale, also visiting the winery from Ontario, with his wife Tracey.