TORONTO -- Patio season is in full swing, and the party is about to get bigger.

Grabbing a bottle of wine or a six-pack at the end of the day is about to get easier, as the LCBO plans to add about 70 new stores over the next two years.

The LCBO has seen its most successful year in history, partly due to more people enjoying more local beer and wine.

Sales for the agency saw an increase of 4.9 per cent over the past year, for a total of $4.71 billion.

Craft beers made in Ontario saw the biggest growth in sales, with a 45-per-cent increase over the past year.

There are currently more than 620 LCBO locations province-wide, and about 350 of those will be open this holiday Monday.