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Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, November 3, 2016 | 32 NEWS Wine for sale on grocery store shelves in York Region Nine stores in York Region among 67 provincewide allowed to sell wine, beer and cider Adam Martin-Robbins amartinrobbins@yrmg.com The provincial government has uncorked the latest plank in its plan to liberalize laws regulating alcohol sales. As of today, Oct. 28, you'll find wine alongside beer and cider at 67 grocery stores across Ontario, including nine in York Region, with the bulk of those in Vaughan. "This broader distribution will not only allow consumers to do their shopping in one stop, we've also made it possible for a wider selection of products to be available on grocery shelves. You'll be able to find local Ontario wines, wines from across Canada and wines from around the world," said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation and MPP for Vaughan, Friday morning at Coppa's Fresh Market in Vaughan, one of the locations now selling wine, beer and cider. "Furthermore, we want to make sure that wine in grocery stores is not only convenient, but also beneficial for local wineries. So grocery stores are required to reserve shelf space for wine produced by small wineries, which creates a win-win-win scenario," he added. Coppa's is offering more than 200 different wines at its Vaughan location, according to company president John Louie. "We try to be on the cusp of things so now being one of the first to get wine into grocery stores, it follows the path we want to take ... and it's very convenient for the consumer, they appreciate it," he said. "It's a move that's long overdue." The government's move to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores comes nearly a year after six-packs of beer were made available in supermarkets, breaking the Beer Store's and LCBO's lock on the sale of suds. "It's been the biggest shakeup to alcohol retailing in our province since prohibition," Del Duca said, noting there's more to come. By 2025, 300 of Ontario's 1,500 grocery stores will be selling wine and 450 will stock beer, he pointed out. But you should be aware that while some grocery stores are open 24/7, you won't be able to buy alcohol around the clock. Sales are allowed Monday to Saturday between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Domenic Volza, who was shopping at Coppa's Friday morning and stopped to check out the wine selection, is definitely pleased. "We've seen it in the (United) States for so many years, it makes sense that you can buy a full meal, including your wine, at the grocery rather than having to make two stops," he said. Steve Somerville/Metroland Domenic Volza and his mother, Margherita, are the first customers to queue for wine available in the Coppa's Fresh Market grocery store on Rutherford Road in Vaughan Friday, part of the province's latest phase in liberalizing alcohol sales. uReport | Reader-submitted content | www.yorkregion.com/ureport Acknowledge Exceptional. Beginning Sunday, November 6, various YRT/Viva routes and schedules are being adjusted. Visit yrt.ca for complete details. Help us celebrate the junior citizens who make our communities better. Nominate someone age 6­17 for a 2016 Ontario Junior Citizen Award! Maya Burhanpurkar 2010 Ontario Junior Citizen, Shanty Bay, ON Do you know someone who is involved in worthwhile community service, is contributing while living with a limitation, has performed a heroic act, demonstrates individual excellence, or is going above and beyond to help others? If so, nominate them today! Nomination forms are available from this newspaper, and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association at www.ocna.org or 416-923-7724 ext. 4439. Sponsored by: ONTARIO JUNIOR CITIZEN AWARDS