British Columbia welcomes World Wine Trade Group

Kelowna, BC – The British Columbia Wine Institute welcomes the World Wine Trade Group to Kelowna, BC this week for the tenth anniversary of their annual meetings.

The WWTG is an informal group of representatives from new world (non-European) wine producing countries, aimed at sharing information, collaborating on international wine issues and enhancing an environment for free trade in wine. Meetings held in Kelowna this week starting on Wednesday will be attended by both government and industry representatives – local and global. With visitors from the U.S., New Zealand, Chile, Australia, Brazil and South Africa, over 75 participants will attend the working conference.

The BCWI will host the group for a BC food and wine experience at CedarCreek Estate Winery on Wednesday, June 25th. “We’re happy to host our esteemed peers and colleagues in our wine region,” states Peggy Athans, Executive Director BC Wine Institute. The BC Wine Institute and CedarCreek chef Judith Knight have planned a menu pairing our local cuisine with wines from 15 of our member wineries. The conference will end with a BCWI hosted tour of the Okanagan Valley on Saturday. Athans adds, “This visit gives us the opportunity to showcase our quality BC VQA wines and one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world to this important group.”

The meeting in Kelowna is an excellent opportunity for the BC wine industry to educate both industry peers and government regulators from many countries about the region and the wine. It will greatly help to put BC on the map as a serious wine producer in the global wine industry and as one of the most spectacular wine and culinary tourist destinations in the world.

The WWTG has proven to be an important force in influencing the regulation of the international wine trade. Beginning with a shared vision and a commitment to open international trade, participating countries have begun to reshape the regulatory environment in which the international wine business operates.

For further information:
Lisa Cameron, Communications Manager
British Columbia Wine Institute
#107 – 1726 Dolphin Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R9
Tel (250) 762-9744 ext. 103 Cell (250) 878-9698 Toll-free 1-800-661-2294
lcameron@winebc.com
www.winebc.com

About the BC Wine Institute (BCWI)
The province’s lead wine industry trade association since 1990, the BCWI has played a pivotal role in taking BC’s wine industry from a vision to an internationally recognized niche region producing premium wines and providing quality wine tourism experiences. With a membership of over 65 wineries representing 96% of total wine production in the province, BCWI is the leading wine industry association in BC.

The BCWI markets the Wines of British Columbia (BC VQA) brand and BC’s wine regions; delivers quality trade, media and consumer tastings; and acts as the voice of BC’s wine industry by advocating to government on behalf of its members. Please visit www.winebc.com for more information. For quick winery and wine industry facts please visit http://www.winebc.com/quickfacts.php

Based in Kelowna, the BCWI promotes the Wines of British Columbia (BC VQA) and the Wine Regions of British Columbia brands.


For further information:
Lindsay Anders, Communications Manager
tel (250) 762-9744 ext. 103 toll-free 1-800-661-2294
landers@winebc.com www.winebc.com