Some urge controversial regulatory changes, such as to allow them to import foreign grapes.
Business owners in B.C.’s wine sector are plowing new ground in an effort to survive the consequences of a severe cold snap in mid-January that devastated Okanagan Valley grape buds and vines.
That production should be enough for Ensor to make about 130,000 litres of wine – far more than the 4,500 litres that he is required to make each year from his own grapes as a requirement of his land-based winery licence. Prodan has for more than a year been leading lobbying efforts to get the provincial government to provide $50 million to the sector to help finance winery owners’ costs to replant grape vines following a similar deep freeze in December 2022.
That proposal is controversial, as some say it could confuse consumers about which wines are from B.C. grapes, and therefore diminish the value of the B.C. Vintners Quality Alliance designation. One thing that is clear is that there will be a lot of anticipation for bud-break season in late April. Many winery principals have already inspected buds and cut into them to see if they can see any green – a sign that the buds are alive.Importing Washington state or Ontario grapes Some winemakers want to be able to import Washington state grapes or juice so they can keep their winery operations going and their staff employed.
“We would like to bring in Washington state grapes,” Blasted Church winemaker Evan Saunders told BIV.He said three or four Mexican workers are set to arrive at the winery to work in the vineyard, alongside a couple other workers.“We still have work in the vineyard,” Saunders said. “We still have to be putting on sprays. We would still, hopefully, have to be setting up the vineyard for next year.
It is less financially viable for B.C. wineries to make wines with foreign grapes or juice because those wines are not eligible for British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch kickbacks or subsidies. If a winery were to price its B.C. wine at $15 and sell it to the BCLDB, the BCLDB would charge a mark-up equivalent to 89 per cent on the first $11.75 per litre of value, and 27 per cent on the remainder.The result would be a $24.51 wholesale price.
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