B.C. Vintners Get a New Set of Wine Laws - Maybe

Wine Authority was announced on December 7 by John van Dongen, Minister of Agriculture Food and Fisheries or was it. In a "meatless" release that managed to thank the premier and sport quotes from Okanagan Westside MLA Rick Thorpe and Penticton Okanagan MLA Bill Barisoff the Minister says the government has pushed forward an agreement on a wine quality program to achieve both provincial and national standards. I wish I could tell you more but it appears the government forgot to mention any details in the press release nor did they advise the "wine" media that they were going to announce what amounts to nothing. What follows are two press releases from the Minister we await some real information on this most important of subjects.

PENTICTON - The successful completion of an 18-month quest to reach agreement on new provincial wine standards will support the dramatic growth of British Columbia's wine industry, John van Dongen, Minister of Agriculture Food and Fisheries said.

"Our government, under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell, has pushed forward to get agreement on a wine quality program to achieve both provincial and national standards," said van Dongen.  "The work that we've accomplished over the past months is going to lay a solid foundation for the continued growth of the B.C. wine industry and increase the recognition and competitiveness of B.C. wines around the world."

"The program will establish clear and consistent standards for quality and labelling on B.C. wines and will help ensure the same high standards and access to markets for both small and large producers," he said.

The Province plans to finalize a licensing agreement with Vintner's Quality Alliance of Canada by Jan. 10, 2005 and move quickly to have the new program ready for implementation by March 1, 2005. The agreement will enable the Province, through a soon to be established B.C. Wine Authority, to implement the new wine quality standards program for B.C.-produced wines.

"It's great to be able to acknowledge the growth of the B.C. premium grape and wine industry in the Okanagan and throughout the province, and to continue supporting this increasingly important sector," added Okanagan-Westside MLA Rick Thorpe. "The new provincial wine standards program will have significant benefits for growers, producers and consumers."

"Okanagan and B.C. wines are gaining national and international recognition and I'm pleased we are able to support this growing industry that has become such an important part of our economy here in the Okanagan Valley," said Penticton-Okanagan Valley MLA Bill Barisoff

Van Dongen told a gathering of provincial growers and vintners during a reception at Lakeside Resort today that the growth in the number of wineries in British Columbia has been phenomenal and he expects that expansion will continue.

Six new grape wineries were licensed in the province since Sept. 1: Granite Creek Estate Wines in the Shuswap, Marshwood Estate Winery on Quadra Island, Winchester Cellars on the Saanich Peninsula, and Laughing Stock Vineyard, Crooked Vines Winery and Orofina Vineyard, all located in the Okanagan.

This brings the total number of wineries in B.C. to 97. This does not include wineries that exclusively make fruit wines or mead.

Barisoff noted that just last week, three B.C. red wines produced in the Okanagan were named best in the country by Canada's premier wine publication, Wine Access Magazine. Quail's Gate Winery was awarded two first-place spots and Sandhill Winery won a first-place award.

In 2003, B.C. generated more than $240 million in domestic sales. Exports passed $33.2 million last year with the top three export markets being the U.S., Japan and the European Union.

and

BRENTWOOD BAY - For the past 18 months the provincial government has worked with industry to achieve provincial and national wine standards that will support the industry's dramatic growth in the province.

John van Dongen, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, told the Wine Islands Growers Association's annual general meeting today at Brentwood Bay's Victoria Estate Winery that the B.C. wine industry is growing rapidly, with the number of wineries in the Vancouver Island-Gulf Island region more than doubling from the nine licensed in 2001 to the 21 licensed today.

"A new wine quality program for British Columbia has been under discussion for some time," said van Dongen. "I'm pleased to say our government has pushed forward to get agreement for this program amongst growers and producers. It will help increase the competitiveness of B.C. wines by establishing clear and consistent standards for quality and labelling. This is particularly important to ensure the same high quality standards and access to markets for both large and small producers."

The Province plans to finalize a licensing agreement with Vintners Quality Alliance of Canada by Jan. 10, 2005 and move quickly to have the program ready for implementation by March 1, 2005. The agreement will enable the Province, through the soon to be established B.C. Wine Authority, to issue and monitor the VQA designation for B.C.-produced wines.

"The new wine standards will help B.C. wineries meet increasing international competition," said van Dongen. "A national wine standards program is an important tool for wineries wishing to export to other countries and provides a legal basis for ensuring that wine imported into our domestic market meets high standards for truth in labelling.

"Wineries in all regions of the province, including those that are exclusively selling their wines locally, will benefit from the protections that a provincial and national wine standards program would provide."

New regulations supported by the new B.C. Wine Authority will provide an opportunity to start with a clean slate to provide truth in labelling, ensuring consumer confidence in B.C. wine; a governance structure that provides fair and transparent wine quality assessment and a program that ensures enforceable standards to protect the quality reputation of the B.C. wine industry.      

Since Sept. 1 of this year, six new wineries have opened in B.C.: one in the Shuswap, one on Quadra Island, one on the Saanich Peninsula and three in the Okanagan. This brings the total number of wineries in the province to 97, not including wineries that exclusively make fruit wines or mead.

B.C.'s wine industry is valued at more than $240 million in domestic sales. Wine grapes are grown on more than 2,000 hectares (almost 6,000 acres) in four main geographical regions according to 2003 figures. Exports passed $3.2 million in 2003 with the top three export markets U.S., Japan and the European Union. Some 2,000 people are involved in wine making in B.C, from seasonal harvesters to master vintners.

The fastest growth has been in the number of small wineries, while the major wineries have continued to expand.