While predicting strong growth in the number of bottles produced over the next few years, the president of the Conseil des vins du Québec (CVQ), Louis Denault, sees a promising future in terms of the place that wine products will occupy. from here on the shelves of the SAQ.
Simplified access
“I think that soon, there won’t even be any more calls for tenders because the SAQ is looking for products from Quebec,” Mr. Denault enthusiastically launched, on the sidelines of the Ciders, wines and alcohols from here convention, which will take place held in Drummondville, Thursday and Friday. If our wine passes the lab tests and the price is not exaggerated, they will take our product. »
The SAQ regularly informs its business partners of its needs, particularly in terms of wine. For example, we are looking for European macerated (orange) wines, rosés from Provence, whites from New Zealand or reds from Quebec. Agents and producers who have drinks that match demand submit applications. The SAQ studies them, does blind tastings and warns the lucky ones. However, Quebec winegrowers believe that the process will be simplified for them.
“I think the door is much wider open right now for Quebec wines,” says Matthieu Beauchemin, owner of Domaine du Nival in Saint-Louis. If you have something that is salable and has a good price, bring it. »
Currently, the products of some forty Quebec winegrowers can be found on the shelves of the government corporation.
Josée Dumas, director of supply management and merchandising at the SAQ, acknowledges that the state-owned company is considering eliminating calls for tenders to shorten lead times, but she denies however wanting to “roll out the red carpet” for Quebec winegrowers. “There is no special treatment,” she insisted when The Press interviewed her on the sidelines of the CVQ congress. However, she points out that the demand for local products is growing. For the moment, these represent 17% of total sales – but this includes foreign beverages bottled in Quebec.
Mutual agreement
Some winegrowers choose not to place their wines on the shelves of the SAQ, for many reasons, including insufficient production volume. On the other hand, if the crown corporation allowed them to sell wines in two or three branches in their region, they would do so with enthusiasm.
This would promote regional growth, explains Liudmilia Terzi, new owner of the Beauchemin vineyard, located in Yamachiche, who would join the SAQ network if such decentralized management were possible.
This is what Louis Denault, president of the Conseil des Vins du Québec, wants.
“If I want to send my product to the SAQ, I have to go through the machine and send my products to the warehouse,” he explains. After that, I can have wines that can be picked up in Fermont and I won’t even have any in my region. »
According to Matthieu Beauchemin, of Domaine du Nival, if the SAQ supported this decentralization, the number of Quebec winegrowers represented globally on the shelves of the state-owned company would double.
Himself, who does not sell his wines at the SAQ, would adhere to it.
This would allow him to bring the cuvées from his Montérégie vineyard directly to the SAQ branches near his home where he has privileged contact with the employees who will then present his wines to their customers.
What scares many winegrowers who are not at the SAQ is the operational side. The logistics chain between your bottle at your vineyard and the customer who buys it at the SAQ, for a smaller vineyard, managed by a family and two, three employees, it’s scary. It’s a big machine. It’s a big brake.
Matthieu Beauchemin, owner of Domaine du Nival
Louis Denault praises the LCBO (the Ontario Crown corporation) for allowing this kind of over-the-counter agreement.
“In a few stores, the LCBO has one-stop access with producers,” he says. Winegrowers have their wines analyzed, like all other products, but once the wine is accepted and its compliance is established, the producer does business directly with a branch.
“We’ve been telling the SAQ for 5 or 6 years that this is the place to go. We need to develop that here. »
Josée Dumas, director of supply management and marketing at the SAQ, however, specifies that it is not the responsibility of the SAQ to allow these agreements, since Quebec law does not allow it.
Marketing lesson
Selling Quebec wine is a shared responsibility, says Sébastien Daoust, from the Les Bacchantes vineyard in Hemmingford, some of whose vintages have been at the SAQ for a few years.
“We all have to work together to improve our marketing skills,” says the entrepreneur. The SAQ can better support us in this and the winegrowers themselves must establish marketing skills. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The next challenge, now that we make good grapes and good wine in Quebec, says Sébastien Daoust, of the Les Bacchantes vineyard, is marketing.
According to him, the marketing process for Quebec wines has been greatly simplified in recent years, because the government corporation understands the reality of small producers.
“I think that several people take care of Quebec winegrowers at the SAQ because they are small producers. »
It now remains to seek additional market share in this context where production will be on the rise.
“We have 1% of the market. The second 1% of the market is more complicated to find. »
“Now that we’re making good grapes, now that we’re making good wine,” says Sébastien Daoust, “how do we market them in a structured, intelligent way like industry in general? This is the next big challenge. »