Wine Culture Magazine

Photo courtesy of Wine Growers British Columbia

In what has been a couple of truly bad news years, there is at last some good news to report.

In the wake of January’s devastating cold event, which decimated more than 90 per cent of the grape harvest in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys, the provincial government is allowing wineries a one-time exemption to import grapes and/or grape juice for vintage 2024. This will keep B.C. workers employed and give wineries something to sell in their tasting rooms when the current supply runs out; as an added bonus, it will help regions like Washington state that are dealing with an oversupply of grapes.

To help local wineries even further, B.C.-based lawyers Al Hudec and Megan O’Neill have joined with Seattle-based wine lawyer Craig Pacheco to write a comprehensive guidebook on all the regulatory issues around importing grapes, juice or unfinished wine from Washington. You can request a complimentary copy from moneill@farris.com or ahudec@farris.com. (For more on Washington wines, see the story by Rhys Pender MW on page 24 of this print issue.)

Just days after that January cold snap, Alberta decided to start a war with B.C. wineries. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, which controls wholesale and distribution of liquor in the province, announced that it would no longer stock B.C. vintners’ products in retail stores unless they stop shipping direct to consumers on the other side of the Rockies. That dustup was resolved in July when a memorandum of understanding between the two was signed, but it has left a bad taste behind.

Now everyone is waiting to see what this fall and winter will hold. At least wildfires haven’t been a problem in wine country this year, although the season isn’t quite over yet. This fall, the Government of B.C. is expected to announce more details on supports for wineries and growers. Meanwhile, The Old Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a colder and drier winter than normal, but let’s just hope it isn’t as cold as the last two.

Also, it bears repeating that there is still plenty of great B.C. wine to enjoy, and if there’s ever been a time when we should all be supporting local wineries, this is it. So stock up on those fall releases while you can!

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