Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/112023
NEWS OF GRAPES AND WINES IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA Pa. Governor Seeks to Privatize Stores Corbett says proceeds from sale of licenses would add $1 billion to public education funding S cranton, Pa.���Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled a new plan to end the state���s monopoly over the sale of liquor and wine. According to his proposed plan, closing the state���s 620 stores and auctioning off 1,200 wine and liquor licenses would generate approximately $1 billion in revenue over the next four years. When Corbett became governor two years ago, he made privatization a priority, and House majority leader Mike Turzai led the effort to pass the necessary legislation. When he was unable to get the support of the House, he discontinued the effort. Corbett���s second attempt has a new twist in that the proceeds from his second proposal would be earmarked for the state���s public schools. The state faced financial problems when Corbett took office, and his budget Gov. Tom Corbett (center) announces his plan to privatize the liquor system in Pennsylvania while speaking Feb. 1 in Scranton, Pa. heavily trimmed state support for public education. School funding remains a problem, and the prospect of $1 billion for education could win additional support for privatization. Gov. Corbett���s proposal would nearly dou- ble the number of outlets for wine and liquor compared to the current number of state stores. Of the 1,200 licenses, 800 would be for large retailers such as box stores, with 400 licenses for smaller businesses such as convenience stores and drug stores. Beer distributors, which are not part of the state���s monopoly, stand to benefit from Corbett���s plan because they would be allowed to sell beer in smaller quantities than by the case. In addition, they could apply for the wine and liquor licenses and thereby become the only places where customers could buy liquor, wine and beer in one location. If Corbett���s plan is passed by the legislature, the closing of state stores could begin within six months and be completed within the next year. ���Hudson Cattell Ontario Ice Wine Outlook Excellent V ineland, Ontario, Canada���Everyone in Ontario agrees that the grape harvest in 2012 was outstanding, possibly the best in Ontario���s grapegrowing history. The same prediction is being made for the harvest of ice wine (spelled icewine in Canada). Grapes for making ice wine must be picked when the temperature is below -8��C (17.6��F), and it is unusual for the harvest to be delayed beyond Jan. 1. Since the first grapes were not harvested until Jan. 2, the vintage date for the ice wine grapes will be 2013. Ontario���s 2013 ice wine harvest took place during two time periods: Vineyards at the top of the Niagara escarpment were able to harvest Jan. 1-3, when temperatures dipped to between -9��C (15.8��F) and -13��C (8.6��F). Farther down the escarpment and in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region, temperatures remained above the -8�� upper limit established by the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA), and picking there had to be delayed. The second harvesting opportunity came Jan. 13, when temperatures dropped as low as -15��C (5��F). Final figures for this HEADLINES p52 52 W in e s & V i ne s M AR C H 20 13 Ontario���s ice wine harvest (seen here at Peller Estates Winery) didn���t begin until 2013. year���s ice wine harvest in Ontario were 5,500 tons netted, and Brix levels reached 40�� in many vineyards. ���Hudson Cattell GRAPEGROWING p53-65