FAQs

Q1. How is this legal
Selling wine direct from the winery as a Manufacturers Representative is what we do. We take orders for wine on behalf of the wineries we represent and then have the wine shipped directly from the winery to our Brokers or to to end customer

Q2. Does it cost a lot of money to become a SR20 Wine Broker?
No it does not cost a lot of money. In fact, for a limited time the initiation fee to become a Wine Broker is waived and the costs to get set up are minimal – business cards, your SMART Serve training and some wine to taste for yourself (sounds like the fun part)

Q3. How does the wine taste?
You should taste it for yourself, but in short – terrific. This is a topic worthy of lots of information, but you can now be very proud of the wine made in your own “back yard” as it is winning awards and surprising judges all around the world. A mere 17 years ago, in connection with Free Trade, the government supported a re-planting of the hybrid and labrusca grapes that were in the ground with the noble Vinifera grape varietals that we all know and love…Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir etc. In addition, significant investments and knowledge came to Canada recognizing that the fundamentals were in place to make terrific cool climate wines. Over the past few years, the vines have matured, vineyard and winery practices have helped to lead the industry and the wines just keep getting better and better.

To be clear – Canadian wines (especially Ontario) are more like Bordeaux and Burgundy than Australia and California. They are elegant and finesse wines. The whites are balanced with great acid and aromatics. They are not and won’t be the big powerhouse wines that you may also love – as do we. If you have rejected Canadian wines based on historical recollections – time to try them again!

Q4. Do you have defined territories for your Wine Brokers?
No we don’t. We see the majority of our wine sales to be more about your social network than a physical territory. As we develop our Licensee business, we believe that we will need to create territories, but we believe the majority of our business will be focused on direct to consumer

Q5. How much money can I make as a Wine Broker?
Well it depends on how socially connected you are and how much time you intend to apply to the business. For some, this business may be a social one that gets the Broker into the wine business and provides money to pay for his or her wine for the year and a trip somewhere. For others, the business may provide a significant income because they have embraced the wine lifestyle and have developed an extensive business

Q6. Where can I get the wine?
If you live in Ontario, you can join the company and/0r buy the wine

Q7. How do I get the wine?
The wine can be delivered directly to your front door or to a convenient location where you can pick up the wine. Someone over the age of 19 must receive the wine

Q8. How much wine do I have to buy at a time and do I have to just buy all the same product in a case?
We ship by the case (12 bottles), but we allow people to mix the wines by winery so that you can create an instant cellar

Q9. Is shipping and handling extra
We help to keep shipping costs as low as possible by subsidizing the costs of shipping, but there is a shipping charge that is dependent on how far you live from the winery and how remote a location it is. Combining your wine shipment with others coming through your broker is a great way to minimize the cost to ship. Giving your wine broker a little extra time to get your wine to you is a great way to get the great prices and access to these terrific wines AND keep your shipping costs low

Q10. How long does it take to deliver the wine
Depending on where you live, it can be as quick as a couple of days and is seldom longer than 5-6 business days

Q11. Is the wine cheaper this way
It often is. Wine needs to have one price. A lot of our wine is not sold in the LCBO. As a result, we can choose the price to retail the wines at. We also seek out wine that is the end of a vintage or a great wine that for one reason or another they made just a bit too much. Watch for our monthly specials. You can expect to see something from a value perspective every month. More importantly though – we expect to help you find wines that you love so that you drink more wines that you like more often at a very reasonable price. We think that is great value – period.