Provincial Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal (centre) socializes with local MPP Todd Smith (right) and Prince Edward County councillor Bill Roberts at Sandbanks Winery Tuesday, June 20/17 (Photo: John Spitters / Quintenews).
A beautiful day greeted the provincial Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal as he visited Sandbanks Winery
in Prince Edward County today (Tuesday).
Minister Jeff Leal used the scenic winery as a backdrop to announce more funding support for wineries and grape producers in Ontario.
Another $45 million will be invested for wine industry marketing and vineyard improvements over the next 3 years.
Minister Leal said that the province’s investments in the industry, which started in 2009, have been a huge success.
Since ’09, VQA wine sales have grown 60%, to $318 million a year from $196 million.
The number of wineries has jumped dramatically as well.
In Prince Edward County alone, there are around 40 wineries now operating.
The Sandbanks Winery itself employs over 50 people, about half of them year round.
County Mayor Robert Quaiff said the booming wine industry locally has been a major reason “the county is now on the map”
for people not only in Ontario but across the country.
