BC changes rules for VQA wines in effort to save wineries, jobs after grape freeze
The devastating loss of grape vines due to the intense cold snap this past winter has left wineries in the Okanagan scrambling to stay in business.
In an effort to help the businesses weather the impacts, the province will temporarily allow wine to be made from grapes and grape juice from outside BC, according to a Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General media release issued today, July 25.
“The challenges facing the BC wine industry today are unlike anything we have experienced in the past and require unique solutions to maintain the viability of not just the wine industry, but also tourism, hospitality, and accommodation sectors that are so critical to our economy,” Wine Growers BC president and CEO Miles Prodan said the release.
BC VQA has been a symbol of quality for the past 30 years and is important to the wine industry in terms of truth in labelling.
Wines made this year from grapes or juice from outside the province will not be labelled or marketed as BC products.
The BC government said without its intervention many wineries would have faced substantial financial losses which may have lead to thousands of direct and indirect jobs lost.
"BC wine growers and wineries are an integral part of the province's economy and this year they have been hit by devastating losses due to extreme weather events," Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said in the release.
“By extending this support, we are providing badly needed help for our wineries during this challenging period. This relief for the 2024 vintage is essential to protect jobs and maintain the cultural and economic vitality this sector brings to our communities."
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