Kickstarter Canada Program

Welcome to The Kickstarter Canada Program!

Financial and promotional support to help you grow your California wine brands in your market – July 2026 to June 2027.

Capped at 30 participants · First registered, first served

FINANCIAMIENTO DEL PROGRAMA

Four ways to access support

Choose any of the opportunities below. All funding is reimbursed after the activity on receipt of proof of performance.

Oportunidad #1

Eventos de California Wines en México

Financial support for an exclusively California wines trade and/or consumer tasting or dinner. Must include brands from at least two separate companies.

11–20 guests	$1,000 CAD
21–30 guests	$2,000 CAD
31+ guests	$3,000 CAD

Oportunidad #2

Viajar a California

Head of Sales or Buyer only. Representatives must differ year to year.

1 person	$1,500 CAD
2+ people	$3,000 CAD

Cannot be taken in back-to-back years unless a new brand was added, and travel representatives must rotate annually.

Opportunity #3

Support for Sales Samples

California Wines offers to help offset the cost of your sales samples. Up to $1,000 CAD reimbursement is available annually for shipping, duties, and excise tax on California wine samples.

Annual Limit

$1,000 CAD

This does not cover the cost of the wine itself or any markup.

Opportunity #4

In-Store Tastings

California Wines provides funding for up to 10 in-store tastings per agency each year to promote California wines in their portfolio. Agencies may receive $200 per tasting, for a maximum of $2,000 annually.

Fixed Support Fee

$200 / tasting

Requires a minimum of 2 SKUs exclusively from California. Proof of performance and report required.

Budget deadline: All invoices and proof of performance must be received by June 30, 2027. Invoices received after this date cannot be paid. The budget cannot be carried over to the following year.

EDUCACIÓN

Capstone California

Como parte de Kickstarter, se anima a los participantes a completar el curso de certificación en línea Capstone California, una guía completa sobre los vinos de California creada por expertos reconocidos internacionalmente.

Inscripción gratuita para los participantes de Kickstarter

Levels 1 and 2 are available at no cost through the link below (normally $175 and $375 USD). Please do not share the enrollment link externally.

Enroll Now

REGLAS DEL PROGRAMA

Before any program activity

Complete estos pasos antes de emprender cualquier actividad financiada.

1
Regístrese para participar: complete the enrolment form
2
Read and accept the terms and conditions (included in the registration form)
3
Email the proposed date and a short description of your activity to info@calwine.ca
4
Descargar el logotipo de California Wines para su uso en invitaciones, menús, letreros y publicaciones en redes sociales

Event Rules

Events must feature California wines exclusively
At least two California wine brands must be included — no exceptions
The California Wines logo must appear on invites, menus, and event photos
Tag @CaliforniaWines on Instagram and Facebook
Trade and/or consumer events and dinners are both eligible

Travel Rules

Travel support can only be used once per fiscal year
Only Heads of Sales and Buyers (from importing agency) are eligible
Representatives must differ year to year
Cannot be taken in back-to-back years unless a new brand was added after the prior trip
Budgets cannot carry over from one year to the next

Sample Rules

Up to $1,000 CAD in shipping costs per agency per year, including customs clearance fees, duties, and excise
Does not cover the cost of the samples themselves or any provincial markups

In-Store Tasting Rules

Agent must be registered with the Kickstarter Program, and tastings must be confirmed at least one month in advance.
Every tasting must feature a minimum of two California wine SKUs and be exclusively for California wines.
Funding is available for up to 10 in-store tastings per agency annually, with $200 provided per tasting (max. $2,000 per year).

REEMBOLSO

Se requiere comprobante de desempeño

Submit all proof of performance with your invoice to info@calwine.ca by 30 de junio de 2027.

Cata comercial o cena

At least 2 California wine brands visible in photos
Copia de la invitación que muestra el logotipo de California Wines
Lista de invitados (nombre y empresa/afiliación) y recuento total de asistentes
Carta de vinos o catálogo con el logotipo de California Wines
Event photos featuring wines, logo, attendees, and signage
Brief summary of event outcomes & anticipated sales results

Asistencia de viajes

Completed trip report form detailing producers visited and wine impressions
Resultados de ventas de vinos de California de los dos años anteriores
Confirmación de 2 o más nuevas bodegas visitadas en busca de representación
Detalles sobre cualquier nueva marca agregada como resultado del viaje
Enlaces o capturas de pantalla de 2 publicaciones en redes sociales sobre el viaje

Support for Sales Samples

Shipping documents and proof of payment noting wine name and California winery
Customs clearance invoices and proof of payment matching shipping documents
Proof of duties and excise paid
Photos of sample usage — trade, trade show, or consumer event pouring
Sales results (estimated or actual) from sampling events
Submit for reimbursement: sample reimbursement form (coming soon)

In-Store Tastings

Completed In-Store Tasting Report detailing store info (name & number), dates, SKUs, samples poured, and sales results
Event photos featuring featured wines (ensure no price discounts are visible)
For SAQ: Submission of the official promo punch report
Wineries cannot be billed for the subsidized $200 portion of the tasting fee. If an agency bills a winery for the full amount, they must reimburse the Wine Institute for all funding received.

Terms, conditions & registration

Por favor, lee los términos que se indican a continuación antes de completar tu registro.

Pago

El California Wine Institute (CWI) pagará el monto correspondiente dentro de los 30 días posteriores a la recepción de una factura válida. Las facturas deben:

Describir la actividad
Incluya todos los detalles de la transferencia bancaria para el pago EFT desde Estados Unidos
Be addressed to: California Wine Institute, 915 L St #1190, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA

Restricción de financiamiento

Los participantes no deben cobrar a las bodegas que representan por ningún fondo recibido a través de este programa. Si se facturan costos adicionales a la bodega, la factura debe reducirse por la cantidad de fondos de Kickstarter recibidos. El incumplimiento requiere el reembolso y resultará en la exclusión de futuros programas de California Wines.

Otros términos

Propiedad intelectual: Ningún derecho sobre las marcas comerciales, nombres de marca, derechos de autor, diseños o logotipos de ninguna de las partes se transfiere mediante este acuerdo.
Responsabilidad CWI y sus agentes no se hacen responsables de ninguna pérdida o daño relacionado con la participación en la actividad.
Ley aplicable: Este acuerdo se rige por las leyes del Estado de California.

Complete RegistrationDescargar logotipo

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Tiene alguna pregunta que no se responda aquí? Envíe un correo electrónico info@calwine.ca

¿Puedo usar estos fondos para armar una mesa dedicada a California en mi cata anual de portafolio, donde se sirven los vinos de todos los países que representamos?

No, los fondos de Kickstarter deben destinarse a eventos que sean exclusivamente para tus marcas de California.

¿Puedo combinar parte de mi financiamiento con otro importador y organizar juntos una cata combinada de marcas de California?

Sí, por supuesto. Solo háganos saber.

¿Nos ayudará CWI a preparar y organizar nuestras catas de California?

CWI no participará directamente en la planificación u organización de su cata; sin embargo, promoveremos los detalles en nuestra base de datos de la industria y prensa, y a través de canales de redes sociales si así lo desea.

If we don’t use our funding in 2026 - 2027 can we hold it over for activity starting from July 2027?

No, the 2026-2027 funding must be used and invoiced to CWI by 30 June 2027.