Company profiles updated 28 September 2026. Market figures refer to 2025.

Finding wine importers in Canada means choosing a provincial route to market. A wine agency can represent your winery and develop sales, while the legal import and distribution process depends on the province. Start with a target province, a suitable sales channel and a viable price in Canadian dollars before seeking a national agreement.

This guide explains the distinction, compares 10 wine agencies and import partners and provides a qualification process. For the wider approach, see our guide to finding wine importers.

Canada’s wine import market

Canada imported 3.7 million hectolitres worth €1.8 billion in 2025, down 3.4% in volume and 7.2% in value. Source: OIV’s 2025 sector report, published May 2026.

For an individual winery, provincial access matters more than a national headline. Separate a proposal for a retail listing from a restaurant-focused agency program, and assess the costs, buying timetable and support required for each.

How the provincial routes differ

• Ontario: distinguish representation by an agent from acceptance into a particular LCBO retail or wholesale program. The LCBO’s supplier and agent guidance explains the roles. Its wholesale listing process has its own program requirements and product calls.
• Quebec: the SAQ handles the legal import route. Private orders also pass through the SAQ; working with a producer’s agent does not bypass that process. Review the SAQ’s import guidance and define the intended route with your representative.
• Alberta: registered agencies represent and market suppliers‘ products within a private retail system. AGLC remains the legal importer of record. See AGLC’s explanation of the Alberta model.

These examples demonstrate why a single national pricing or listing assumption is insufficient. Build a separate plan for every province you intend to enter and confirm its current procedures with the responsible authority and commercial partner.

10 Canadian wine agencies and import partners to research

These 10 Canadian businesses provide starting points for provincial representation and supply research. “Importer” and other business models in the table are database classifications, not a determination of the legal importer of record. The applicable provincial authority, programme and agency arrangements must be established separately.

Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits

Mark Anthony Group is listed with its Wine & Spirits business in Vancouver. Its database activities include importing and distribution, with wine and spirits among its categories.

Before approaching: Identify the relevant provincial team and portfolio remit, then confirm the legal import route and brand-development responsibilities.

Website: markanthonywineandspirits.ca

PMA Canada

Peter Mielzynski Agencies is based in Oakville. Its database activities include importing, distribution, wholesale and wine agency or brokerage, with wine, beer and spirits among its categories.

Before approaching: Clarify provincial representation, category buying responsibility and the resources expected for a launch.

Website: pmacanada.com

Select Wines

Select Wine Merchants is based in Vancouver and combines wine agency activity with importing and distribution classifications. Its categories include wine, sparkling wine and spirits.

Before approaching: Confirm the provinces and local teams included in the proposal and assess competing estates within each portfolio.

Website: selectwines.ca

Trialto Wine Group

Trialto is a premium wine agency focused on Western Canada, representing family-owned producers and working with liquor boards, retailers and restaurants. Its database base is Vancouver.

Before approaching: Assess fit with an estate-led premium portfolio and the specific provinces and accounts the proposed team would develop.

Website: trialto.com

Lifford Wine & Spirits

Lifford is a Toronto-based Ontario wine agency with an international portfolio and a consignment offering serving restaurant and private-client demand.

Before approaching: Agree the appropriate Ontario programme, case formats, available allocations and account-development plan.

Website: lifford.com

Christopher Stewart Wine & Spirits

Christopher Stewart Wine & Spirits is based in Richmond, Canada. Its database activities include importing and wholesale, with wine, sparkling wine and spirits among its categories.

Before approaching: Confirm the provincial remit, importing arrangements and route to the intended retail or hospitality accounts.

Website: christopherstewart.com

Renaissance Wine Merchants

Renaissance Wine Merchants is a Calgary-based wine agency with importing among its database classifications. Its categories include still, sparkling and organic wine.

Before approaching: Define the relevant provincial registration and sales responsibilities and support any organic claims with documentation.

Website: renwine.com

International Cellars

International Cellars is based in Vancouver and combines wine agency activity with importing and distribution classifications. Its categories include still, sparkling and organic wine.

Before approaching: Agree the provinces, portfolio positioning and launch support included in any representation proposal.

Website: international-cellars.com

Le Sommelier

Le Sommelier is a Toronto-based wine agency whose database activities also include importing, distribution, wholesale and online sales. Its categories include still, sparkling and organic wine.

Before approaching: Establish the appropriate provincial ordering programme, customer segment and responsibilities for stock and payment.

Website: lesommelier.com

Empson Canada

Empson Canada is based in Calgary, with importing, distribution and wholesale among its database activities. Its categories include still and sparkling wine.

Before approaching: Confirm each proposed province, local sales responsibility and the process for product submissions and replenishment.

Website: empsoncanada.com

Company-level facts: BestWineImporters database records reviewed 28 September 2026. These examples illustrate business models, not a ranking or a list of open buying requirements. Locations identify company bases rather than sales territories. Product categories are not necessarily exhaustive. The qualification points are editorial guidance rather than statements of buyer requirements.

Find importers that match your wines. Request a demo tailored to your origins, price range and target channels.

For the commercial role distinctions, see our comparison of importers, distributors and agents.

Which route suits your winery?

Small estates: discuss a focused province and a manageable selection of wines. A specialist agency with relevant restaurant or private-client relationships may provide a more practical starting point than pursuing several unrelated listing processes at once.

Established premium producers: assess the partner’s ability to coordinate provincial submissions, trade education and replenishment. Separate the responsibilities of a national account lead from those of the local sales teams.

Volume suppliers: align the proposed wines with the relevant product requirements, pack formats, price targets and submission calendar. Confirm available stock and the working capital needed to support the program.

Evaluate Canada alongside other destinations using our export-market selection framework. The right choice depends on your available resources as well as market size.

How to qualify a Canadian wine partner

1. Choose the province and channel: record the intended retail, hospitality or specialist route and the relevant listing or ordering process.
2. Check representation: establish which legal entity and local team would represent your range, and whether competing producers create a portfolio conflict.
3. Model the final price: work in Canadian dollars and include the applicable provincial charges, logistics, agency terms and channel economics.
4. Map the timetable: establish product-call dates where relevant, sample procedures, documentation and expected ordering lead times.
5. Agree stock and payment responsibilities: clarify when the winery is paid, who bears inventory costs and how slow-moving stock will be managed.
6. Set measurable launch activity: identify target accounts, trade tastings, training, reporting and review dates before negotiating wider territorial rights.

Use our importer evaluation checklist to test the strongest prospects and our qualified shortlist guide to keep provincial coverage and evidence visible.

Prepare your buyer approach

Send a concise proposal with two or three lead wines, export prices and delivery terms, available volumes, ABV, vintage, case format and technical sheets. Explain why the range fits that agency’s provincial portfolio. Agree the required label information and supporting documents before production or shipment.

For a practical message structure, use our wine importer outreach guide. Follow up around a relevant buying opportunity rather than assuming that a national market trend creates an immediate opening.

Build a province-specific Canadian buyer shortlist

Use BestWineImporters to research potential Canadian partners, then qualify the relevant province, portfolio and sales route. Request a demo and share your wine origins, price position and priority provinces so our team can focus the discussion on your export plans.

Compare related export markets

To put provincial agency and retail routes in context, compare the market structures covered in the United States wine importer guide and the Sweden wine importer guide. Qualify buyers, territory and commercial terms separately for each market.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Canadian wine agency the same as the legal importer?

Not necessarily. Agencies represent and market suppliers, while the legal import route depends on the province. Clarify both roles before agreeing the commercial arrangement.

Does appointing an agent secure an LCBO or SAQ listing?

No. Representation and product acceptance are separate steps. Ask which program the agent proposes, what its requirements are and how the wine would reach customers.

Should a winery grant Canada-wide exclusivity?

Evaluate the actual provincial coverage, launch commitments and reporting first. The agreed territory should reflect the partner’s capacity and the winery’s development plan.