Ontario is giving more than $1.1 million to two of the province’s wine industry leaders, Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Limited and Andrew Peller Limited.

The investment, coming from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, will help the companies create 45 new jobs and retain 133 existing positions in Niagara region, said an Ontario news release.

Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc. will receive $608,100 to invest in a 43,300-square-foot facility expansion with new fermenters; humidity, temperature-controlled storage and bottling areas; and state-of-the-art wine canning equipment. The project is expected to be completed in March 2021 and will create 16 jobs and help retain 47 existing jobs.

As well, Diamond will become one of the only North American wine producers to offer canned still wine. The release said the goal is to “take advantage of a growing trend for single-serve drinks and the market for light-weight packaging for alcoholic drinks.”

Andrew Peller Limited will receive $527,200, which will go towards the Wayne Gretzky Winery and Distillery facility in Niagara-on-the-Lake, as well as to increase barrel and fermentation capacity at its Grimsby winery facility. The project, expected to be completed by March 2020, will create 29 new jobs and help to retain 87 existing positions.

Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc. and Andrew Peller Limiter are two of the largest wine producers in the province and country.

Diamond brands including Lakeview Cellars, 20 Bees and Dan Aykroyd Wines.

Peller brands include Peller Estates, Trius, Hillebrand and Wayne Gretzky. Peller also produces whisky, wine-based liqueurs, cocktails, spritzers, and premium personal winemaking products.

Ontario is accepting applications for the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund from qualified businesses that are growing and creating jobs. Sectors eligible for the fund include advanced manufacturing, food processing, life sciences, information and communications technology, tourism and cultural industries.

Since 2013, the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund has committed support of over $163 million, helping to create and retain around 41,000 jobs and leveraging over $1.92 billion in total investments.