Canadian Online Wine Directory Released

OTTAWA, ON--(Marketwired - September 22, 2015) - Canada's first national, industry-led, online winery directory has been officially launched. Wine411.ca includes more than 800 grape and fruit wineries, as well as cideries and meaderies, from coast to coast.

The directory is a joint initiative between the Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) and BlackSquare Inc., who identified the need for a comprehensive Canadian wine industry resource. With more than 3 million visitors to Canadian wineries annually, and a national annual industry economic impact valued at more than $6.8 billion for grape wine alone, Wine411.ca will further support industry growth and enhance public awareness of Canadian wine.

"The collection of information and development of the online platform has taken significant investment and commitment," said David Gluzman, BlackSquare Inc.'s President. "We're confident that the wine industry and users will appreciate the thought that's gone into it."

Few, if any countries in the world have a resource like Wine411.ca, which is a user-friendly, visually impressive directory and intended for use by wineries, travellers and anyone interested in Canadian wineries and wine regions. It is organized by province and geographical region, providing winery contact information, production volumes, varietals and awards received, as well as consumer-friendly data on visitor facilities, social media links, wine club information and more.

"Canada is a world-class, premium wine producer," said Dan Paszkowski, CVA President and CEO. "We feel it's important to encourage wine enthusiasts in Canada and abroad to discover and more fully understand our wine regions and producers."

While there is no cost or membership requirement for wineries to have a listing on Wine411.ca; wineries are requested to review their information for accuracy.

"The benefits of an online directory are numerous, including the ability to review and update content regularly," said David Gluzman. "The Canadian wine industry is growing quickly, so it's critical to offer a platform that is responsive and accurate."

The timing of Wine411.ca's release is perfect for inspiring a trip to one of Canada's beautiful wine regions, where producers are currently celebrating another outstanding harvest.

About the joint project partners:

The Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) is the national voice of the Canadian wine industry, representing more than 90% of Canada's annual wine production. CVA members are engaged in the entire wine value chain: from grape growing, farm management, grape harvesting, research, wine production, bottling, retail sales and tourism. (www.canadianvintners.com)

BlackSquare Inc. developed the Global Wine Database which powers Wine411.ca and Blackboxx, the most powerful ecommerce technology tailor made for direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales in the global wine and spirits industry. BlackSquare powers efficient, cost-effective DTC sales for wine-producing clients on four continents. BlackSquare is based in Calgary, Alberta, with a subsidiary office in Sydney, Australia. (http://blacksquare.ca/) (http://gwdb.org/)

Media Resources:

Twitter feed: @CanWine411

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