About BCWI
Role
Marketing
Communications
Research and Development
Advocacy
Wine Tourism
Funding
Board and Committee

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

Expansion: There are now over 175 grape wineries in BC and several licenses pending, up from just 13 in 1984.

More awards: Jackson Triggs - Okanagan won the 2006 Rosemount Estate Trophy for Best Shiraz/Syrah of the year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, England. A first for a North American Winery since they began awarding the trophy in 1994!

Geography: The southern Okanagan Valley in the area between Oliver and the border is classified as part of the Sonora Desert, which runs south to the Baja Peninsula in Mexico.

Labrusca: A family of grapes – Vitis Labrusca – native to North America.*

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

  
 
GOVERNANCE – HANDS-ON INDUSTRY GUIDANCE.
 

A board of directors made up of seven voting members governs the BCWI. There are three large winery seats on the board, two from medium-sized wineries, and two from small wineries. Board members, including the chair, are elected at the annual general meeting for two-year terms. An independent grapegrower appointed by the BC Grapegrowers' Association is also an ex-officio member of the board.

Active committees comprised of volunteer members actively direct the BCWI’s work.  Committees include government relations, finance, marketing and BC VQA wine store.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 

 
Josie Tyabji, Chairman, Vincor Canada
Shaun Everest, Vice-Chairman, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Greg Berti, Andrew Peller Ltd.
Bill Eggert, Fairview Cellars
Ingo Grady, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery
Mike Raffan, Township 7 Vineyards & Winery
Kathy Mercier, Rock'n Horse Farm / BC Grapegrowers' Association
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE (ADVISORY)
 


Josie Tyabji, Chair, Vincor Canada
Bill Eggert, Fairview Cellars
Gordon Fitzpatrick, CedarCreek Estate Winery
Walter Gehringer, Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
Ingo Grady, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery
Mike Raffan, Township 7 Vineyards & Winery
Tony Stewart, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
FINANCE COMMITTEE (ADVISORY)
 

 
Geri Davis, Chair, Gray Monk Estate Winery
Josie Tyabji, Vincor Canada
Helen Sarris, Summerhill Pyramid Organic Winery
Gail Van Ryswyk, Dirty Laundry Vineyard
MARKETING COMMITTEE (ADVISORY)
 

 
Jody Levesque, Chair, Vincor Canada
Julie Copland-Stene, Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery
Shaun Everest, Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery
Atticia Grondin, Andrew Peller Ltd.
Jane Hatch, Tantalus Vineyards
Kerri McNolty, Burrowing Owl Vineyards
Kristin Peturson-Laprise, Quails' Gate Estate Winery
Lori Pike-Raffan, Township 7 Vineyards & Winery
Lavaughn Larson, BC Liquor Distribution Branch
Paulette Parry, BC Liquor Distribution Branch
Leah McDowell, Kensington Square Wines
BC VQA WINE STORE COMMITTEE (ADVISORY)
 

 
Tyler Galts, Chair, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
Bill Eggert, Fairview Cellars
Trudy Heiss, Gray Monk Estate Winery
Rob Smith, Hester Creek Estate Winery
Josie Tyabji, Vincor Canada
 
© 2011 British Columbia Wine Institute.  All rights reserved.