A manufacturer licence allows you to make wine, beer, or spirits. You can also:
- Have a dedicated sampling area for the public
- Have an on-site store to sell packaged products to the public
- Provide guided tours to patrons and serve them samples on the tour
- Sell products to licensees through your manufacturing agreement with the Liquor Distribution Branch
- Market and promote your products to licensees and the public
There are three different manufacturer licence types - winery, brewery, and distillery.
Winery
Wineries can manufacture wine, cider, mead, sake, wine coolers, and fortified wines (wine to which spirits are added) to name a few.
You must have the equipment to produce a minimum of 4,500 litres on-site each year. This process must include fermentation and at least one other step such as: blending, crushing, filtering, aging, carbonation, or packaging.
Brewery
Breweries can manufacture beer and beer coolers, malt-based seltzers, and sugar-based seltzers.
You must own and/or rent the equipment necessary to produce on-site. If you rent, you must have a minimum one-year lease.
Distillery
Distilleries can manufacture spirits, spirit coolers, products such as brandy that are manufactured by distilling wine, liqueurs, and other similar products;
You must own and/or rent the equipment necessary to produce on-site. If you rent, you must have a minimum one-year lease.
Co-Packer
A co-packer licensee does bottling, blending, and flavouring of liquor on behalf of a licensed winery, brewery, or distillery. The product is always owned by the manufacturer and must be immediately returned to the owner once packaging is complete. The packaged product must not be stored on-site at the co-packing facility.
This licence does not authorize fermentation, distilling, sampling by patrons, or direct sale of liquor.
Fees
Winery: $550 + first year licensing fee (prorated up to $550)
Brewery: $550 + first year licensing fee (prorated up to $1100)
Distillery: $550 + first year licensing fee (prorated up to $1100)
Co-packer: $550 + first year licensing fee (prorated up to $1100)
The fees are prorated. The amount you pay depends on
- How many months remain from the time your licence is issued until March 31
Refunds
Refunds for liquor licence fees may be available if the:
- Application has not started processing
- Branch has made an error
- Application was submitted in error
- Applicant has overpaid
- First year licence fees for a food primary were paid but the application was refused
A local government or First Nation rejecting an application is not grounds for a refund. To request a refund, contact the client support team.
Terms and conditions
Review the Manufacturer Licence Terms and Conditions [PDF, 593KB] and guidelines for liquor advertising and promotion to understand the terms and conditions of your licence and endorsements.
