Varietals: 49% of British Columbia’s wines are white. 51% are red. In the last acreage survey conducted, 97.1% of the yield was from vinifera grapes and 2.9% from hybrids.

Sales: British Columbia VQA wine sales have doubled in the last six years to more than $182 million annually.

Botrytis: A fungus that attacks grape skins. In favourable conditions, it dehydrates grapes, allowing the production of intense dessert wines.*

Hybrid: Grape varieties developed, typically by crossing European varieties with native North American varieties. The plant breeder’s objectives include developing varieties that ripen early, resist disease or are winter-hardy.*

Terroir: The Okanagan Valley has five officially recognized sub-regions — Kelowna, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Golden Mile, and Black Sage/Osoyoos.

*Schreiner, John - British Columbia Wine Country, Whitecap Books Ltd., 2003

 
 
HISTORY- THE MOVE TO A QUALITY-DRIVEN WINE INDUSTRY.
 


The British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI) was created by an act of the provincial legislature, the BC Wine Act, in 1990.

It was conceived as a component of a strategic plan of industry and government to create an internationally competitive wine industry. The strategy included the removal of labrusca and hybrid grape varieties and replanting vineyards to vinifera varietals, establishing an industry based on premium wine production.

The BCWI oversaw the development of the VQA program and conducted research and development (R&D) on behalf of the industry.

 In 2006 the BCWI members voted to become a voluntary trade association with member fees to be based on BC wine sales. The VQA program and the regulatory oversight would go to the BC Wine Authority and the R&D and Health & Safety committees would move to the BC Wine Grape Council.
ROLE – SHAPING THE VOICE OF AN INDUSTRY.
 


The BCWI plays a key role in the growth of BC’s wine industry. Our 100 winery members and 15 grapegrower partners represent 95% of BC VQA sales, 95% of the province’s total wine production and produce 88% of 100% BC grape wine production.
 
BC VQA wines are now the second-largest category (behind only non-VQA Canadian wine) in BC sales and these sales continue to grow. BC VQA wines now dominate the quality wine market in BC – meaning British Columbians choose BC VQA wines over imported wines from any other region or country.

The BCWI works tirelessly to build and market the Wines of British Columbia (BC VQA) wine brand, creates the business climate that allows members to prosper, liaises with government and stakeholders on key business and regulatory issues and promotes the industry to key wine, food and travel media on behalf of its membership.

If you are a BC licensed grape winery or a BC grapegrower interested in BCWI membership please contact the BC Wine Institute at 250-762-9744 or info@winebc.com for further information.
 
© 2006 British Columbia Wine Institute.  All rights reserved.