Stop bashing B.C. wines over pipelines, producers say

Local wineriessay they'vebecomecasualties in an inter-provincial fightover a pipeline that has nothing to do with them.

"I'm hoping calmer heads will prevail. I know people are upset [but] political things happen and a lot of times we have to sit back and let the government sort it out without taking matters into our own hands," said Tony Stewart, CEO of Quail's Gate Estate Winery.

Atleast one Fort McMurray, Alta.,restaurant will no longer sellB.C.winesin retaliation to this province's callfor more research into the risk of spillingdiluted bitumen on the West Coast.AstiTrattoriaItalianais callingon other establishments to follow its lead.

There's even a #BoycottBCWinehashtag making the rounds on social media.

That move could stall the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project that would triple the amount of heavy oil arriving in Metro Vancouver from Alberta's oilsands.

"Alberta is our second-largest market," said Stewart."We've got a very good network of customers in Alberta and if they felt this was necessary to get this point across to the B.C. government it could hurt us quite significantly."

Eleven per cent of B.C. wine sold inCanada goes to Alberta. B.C. is the biggest market for wines made here.

"What I should say is I think this whole matter could be resolved if the two premiers got together and had a glass of Quail's Gate," said Stewart.

Ironically that seemed to work better when the two premiers came from different parties. In 2013 former B.C. Liberal Premier Christy Clark gifted former Alberta ConservativePremier Alison Redford with a bottle of Quail's Gate Pinot Noir.

"My concern is it's really about farmers and growers. These are all small family operations and they are who really is going to end up bearing the brunt of these sorts of issues," said Miles Prodan of the B.C. Wine Institute.

'There was no attempt to be provocative,' says Horgan

Premier John Horgan says his government is trying to protect the province, not be provocative, when it comes to a proposed ban on increasing the amount of diluted bitumen shipped in B.C.'s waters. Horgan said consultations on the proposal should not set off a "trade war between good friends.

"I think British Columbians expect me to stand up for their interests and I'll continue to do that."