Small Cidery Program (2025-26)
The Small Cidery Program provides grant payments to help Ontario cideries grow their operations. Payments are based on sales of alcoholic cider.
New this year
To give Ontario cideries more flexibility for planning and managing cash flow, the Small Cidery Program will now be paid on a semi-annual basis, instead of annually.
These changes start with the 2025-26 program year, which uses 2025 sales data.
Applications must be submitted by November 19, 2025.
For more information, see the
Small Cidery Program Guidelines 2025-26 (Semi-annual payments).
Eligibility for more than one program
You may also be eligible for:
If you have eligible sales, Agricorp will email you separate application package(s).
Small Distillery Program (2025-26)
The Small Distillery Program provides grant payments to help Ontario distilleries grow their operations. Payments are based on production of spirits.
New this year
To give Ontario distilleries more flexibility for planning and managing cash flow, the Small Distillery Program will now be paid on a semi-annual basis, instead of annually.
These changes start with the 2025-26 program year, which uses 2025 sales data.
Applications must be submitted by November 19, 2025.
For more information, see the
Small Distillery Program Guidelines 2025-26 (Semi-annual payments).
VQA Wine Support Program (2025-26)
The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Wine Support Program supports Ontario wineries in increasing competitiveness and innovation while growing the sales of Ontario VQA wines at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). The program provides grants to help wineries invest in growing their VQA wine business.
New this year
To give Ontario VQA wineries more flexibility for planning and managing cash flow, the VQA Wine Support Program will now be paid on a quarterly basis throughout the year, instead of annually.
Also, the government has expanded support for the VQA Wine Support Program to include convenience store and onsite sales.
These changes start with the 2025-26 program year, which uses sales data from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
Applications must be submitted by October 20, 2025.
For more information, see the
VQA Wine Support Program Guidelines 2025-26 (Quarterly payments).
Ontario Grape Support Program
The Ontario Grape Support Program encourages wineries to use more Ontario-grown grapes in their production of International Domestic Blend (IDB) and 100% Ontario non-VQA wines.
How it works
Wineries receive funding based on eligible 100% Ontario non-VQA and IDB wine sales volume. Payments are issued once a year and are determined by the percentage of Ontario grape content in sold wine, as reported by the winery to the LCBO and Agricorp.
| Program Year | Tier
| % Ontario grape content (non-VQA) | Payment rate per litre
|
|---|
| 2025-26 – 2029-30 | 1
| 100%
| $1.80
|
|---|
| 2025-26 – 2029-30 | 2
| 75-99%
| $1.35
|
|---|
| 2025-26 – 2029-30 | 3
| 50-74%
| $1.10
|
|---|
| 2025-26 | 4
| 25-49% | $0.90
|
|---|
| 2026-27 | 4
| $0.85
|
|---|
| 2027-28 | 4
| $0.80
|
|---|
| 2028-29 | 4
| $0.70
|
|---|
| 2029-30 | 4
| $0.70
|
|---|
The program begins in 2025-26, using data from the 2024-25 Sales Year.
Applications must be submitted by January 5, 2026.
For more information, see the
Ontario Grape Support Program Guidelines 2025-26.
Eligibility
A third-party organization will verify the percentage of Ontario non-VQA grape content that you report in your application. Once we receive your application, we will email you instructions for how to register with the organization.
