Mayor Tim Johnston is in Winnipeg today meeting with Al Roney, director of retail sales for the MLCC, who grew up in Thompson, over the future of Kingsgate Reserve Sherry here.
The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), acting on concerns expressed by Johnston, moved quickly in late November to temporarily remove Kingsgate Reserve Sherry, at up to 20 percent alcohol per volume, from its shelves here at the Thompson Liquor Mart.
Kittling Ridge Estate Wines & Spirits' Kingsgate Reserve Sherry "has been listed in Manitoba since May 2009 and was put into the Thompson Liquor Mart on Oct. 1," Susan Harrison, internal communications co-ordinator for the MLCC, said earlier. "It is currently available in 43 Liquor Marts across the province," she added.
"The City of Thompson forwarded us a concern about this sherry," Harrison said last Nov. 19. "Because we have a positive working relationship with the city, we have decided to remove the sherry from our shelves until we have further discussions with the mayor and resolve the concern. Therefore, it is currently unavailable for purchase in Thompson."
Now, two months later, the future of Kingsgate Reserve Sherry on the shelves of the Thompson Liquor Mart may be resolved in the meeting between Johnston and Roney.
Kingsgate Reserve is a premium, medium dry sherry, barrel aged in oak for extra smoothness. Made from a wine base of Ontario Muscat, the wine is fortified with brandy to bring the alcohol content up to 20 per cent alcohol per volume.
Fortified London Westminster Sherry, which is also 20 per cent alcohol per volume, remains on the shelves of the Thompson Liquor Mart.
Johnston praised the MLCC last November for their quick response in removing Kingsgate sherry.
The MLCC, an arms-length provincial Crown corporation.
Johnston said he learned Kingsgate Reserve Sherry was on Thompson Liquor Mart shelves in mid-November, when Lou Morissette, a citizen appointee on the public safety committee, and former MLCC liquor inspector in Thompson, sent him an e-mail. Morissette resigned form the MLCC effective July 3. He retired from the RCMP here as a staff sergeant in August 2007.
