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Ryan Clark, co-founder of Butiq Escapes, said the company’s “escape artists” can help customize each trip based on individual wine preferences or favourite spots in B.C. wine country. They’ll also deliver a few bottles before the trip begins to hold you over while the “drought” continues.

The Alberta government banned imports of B.C. wine into the province on Feb. 6 in protest of the B.C. government’s stalling on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Albertans spent $72 million on B.C. wine last year, with close to 95 per cent of all Canadian wine sold within Alberta coming from the province’s western neighbour.

“A big portion of our business are Albertans doing wine tours here and that’s what made us jump on the tongue-and-cheek play right now because we recognize how many Albertans are coming and doing our tours alone,” Clark said. “It really kind of pissed us off … We thought it was kind of silly to attack what’s going on now with B.C. wine producers. We love our Albertan clients, there’s so many of you coming just with us every year so it was so annoying to see.”

The price of the tour starts at $13,000 for a group of four, which includes accommodation, flights, access to private chefs and the 50 bottles of wine for the road. Clark said the smuggling escape is perfect for groups of two to six people and many of the elements of the tour are customizable, as is the price.

He said all Albertans are welcome, with the exception of Premier Rachel Notley.