The Essentials Collection is a limited and carefully curated portfolio of our customers’ favourite premium products that have consistently demonstrated great success in our market. These products are continuously available in select retail locations. There is an expectation that products in our Essentials Collection will be supported in market with an annual promotional spend to ensure they achieve maximum sales potential and exceed the annual sales target. Sales performance of Essentials products is reviewed against their targets on a regular basis, and the portfolio is refreshed annually.
Every two weeks, 120+ new products are released in limited quantity into our retail
network, supported by our Vintages Retail Release catalogue, which is available free to customers in both print and online versions. Close to 250 stores in the retail network receive a selection from new releases.
The Retail Release catalogue includes in-house photography of each product released, accompanied by either a tasting note from our own expert panel or a review from a credible third-party source, such as Wine Advocate or Wine Spectator. Each Retail Release catalogue also includes feature articles that focus on topics like countries, regions, varietals, producers and wine styles, to educate and encourage customers to explore beyond their usual preferences. Retail Release products are tasted by our in-store Product Consultants so that they can speak from personal experience when assisting customers in making their selections.
To learn more about our in-store Product Consultants and how to engage with them click here.
Each release offers feature programs, such as Wine of the Month, Hand-Picked Gifts, $17 Dollar Solution, as well as a number of Ontario exclusive features are non-applied paid program, sourced by the Buyers in the process of their regular tasting cycle. However, the expression of interest in participating in one of the programs as a part of your NISS submission is welcome, if your offer meets the minimum criteria outlined in the each program description.
The Wines of the Month (WOM) program profiles two products – recognized as the buyers’ two favourites – every two weeks, meaning in each release. These wines are excellent expression of varietal or regional style, usually from a well-followed source (for example, Sonoma, Mendoza, Chianti or Bordeaux) with good depth of inventory and usually a strong third party review.These products are specially photographed and receive prominent placement on the inside front cover of the Retail Release catalogue. WOM is displayed in Retail network with backer card in most stores and on prominent ends in key VINTAGES locations. Depending on the price, which usually ranges between $19 and $29, and a wine’s specifications, the case quantity, in general, falls between 800-1400cs (all 12cs equivalents).
VINTAGES PROGRAMS FEES, F22-23
Wine of the Month
Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13
$4,880
Periods 8, 9, 10
$5,580
The Hand-picked Gift program appears on the inside back cover of every Retail Release catalogue. This program highlights a single product in each release that has been selected as being an ideal solution for customers’ entertainment or gift-giving needs. These wines are usually more premium than WOM, yet still offer excellent price-to-quality ratio, and come from a broader range of sources, usually with a interesting background story to become a conversation starter. The selection is specially photographed and accompanied by an informal product note and, where possible, a third-party accolade. The price range is usually $20-40, and case quantity is in the range of 400-800 cases, based on price and wine specifications.
VINTAGES PROGRAMS F22-23
Hand-Picked Gift
Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13
$3,460
Period 8, 9, 10
$4,025
The $17 Solution wines are promoted six times per year in both the Vintages Retail Release catalogue and the LCBO’s Food & Drink magazine. These wines, usually from well recognized sourced (e.g. Bordeaux, Chianti, Maipo), have been specially selected and negotiated by our buyers to over-deliver at the $17 price point. This program is designed to encourage customers to try something new and instill confidence in the value and quality offered by specific brands available in Vintages. The case quantity ranges between 1000-1500cs.
- VINTAGES Programs F22-23
- Food & Drink Ad
- $6,770
LOCAL Talent
This program promotes the exceptional quality of wines from our own backyard. Local Talent showcases up to four products representing an Ontario Wine region, style, winery or group of like-minded producers.
The products are photographed and featured on two-page spread in the Vintages Release Catalogue and in-store signage. This program alternates with Local Find.
LOCAL Find
This program promotes the exceptional quality of wines from our own backyard. For Local
Find, one Ontario VQA wine is endorsed by the Ontario wines product manager. It is typically $15-$20 with broad appeal. It is specially photographed and profiled on a full page in the Retail Release catalogue and through in-store signage. This program alternates with Local Talent.
There are processing fees equal to 1% of the PO total to participate in the Local Find and Local Talent programs.
Vintages Ontario Buyer's Pick
The Vintages Ontario Buyer's Pick showcases one Vintages Essentials per period recommended by the Ontario wines product manager. The products are displayed as a cut-case display, in a basket or with a shelf talker depending on the store. The program may be supported with an LTO.
VINTAGES PROGRAMS F22-23
VINTAGES Ontario
Buyer’s Pick
$3,060
There is also a range of the opportunities for exclusively Ontario Wine Boutique programming, please contact Ontario Wines’ team.
Release Covers
Each release offers additional opportunities to increase your wine’s exposure and ensure an expedient sell-through with two Front and three Back covers spots. While these spots do not come with an incremental quantity orders, the Buying team tends to reach out to the Trade partners whose wines fit a given catalogue Thematic or or a release seasonality with already a sizeable parcel purchased. Clearly, as every catalogue shows, the added value of these opportunities is well appreciated by our partners.
- VINTAGES PROGRAM, F22-23
Release Front Cover
Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13
$3,220
Periods 8, 9, 10
$4,920
Release Back Cover - Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13
$2,090
Periods 8, 9, 10
$3,000