Climate change, tourism top of mind for B.C. wine industry | 24CA News
Winemakers from throughout the province met to plan for the way forward for B.C. wine.
Penticton hosted the 5th annual BC Wine Industry Insight Conference on Tuesday, again as an in-person occasion.
“With over 250 people in attendance, we’re oversold and it’s really nice to get back together and be in person. Those numbers really indicate it’s time for people to come back together and learn an update on the wine industry,” mentioned Wines of BC president and CEO Miles Prodan.
“We’ve got a great mix between those four groups of us getting together. We’ve got winemakers, we’ve got winery proprietors, we’ve got grape growers, and we’ve got government people here to learn and to speak a bit, too, updating what’s happening in the industry.”
The convention introduced the {industry} collectively for a possibility to study new instruments and strategies and to listen to how the {industry} is doing.
Keynote speaker periods highlighted industry-wide developments, alternatives and challenges.
“We’ve got a number of breakout sessions that relate to what you’re interested in. If it’s in the vineyard, people talking about farming and pruning and if it’s winemaking, we’ve got that, and if it’s marketing, we’ve got that. It’s really a collaboration of bringing everyone together. There’s a little bit of something for everyone,” mentioned Prodan.
“Our industry is interesting because we’re the highest value AG product there is so very few if any products grown in this value in the province. We do all the way from the vineyard all the way to what’s in the bottle, so it’s important that we understand all those different attributes and what we need to manage that process.”
Over the previous couple years, B.C.’s wine {industry} has confronted a number of hurdles, together with the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Prodan, wine tourism numbers aren’t fairly again to pre-pandemic ranges.
“We’re not seeing the tourism numbers come back as we were hoping and we’re worried that maybe there’s a bit of a hangover from the from the COVID,” he mentioned.
B.C.’s Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Brittny Anderson, mentioned they’re in search of methods to raised help BC’s wine tourism sector.
“I know how important wine industry is for tourism in our province. This is a new role for me, so really, the opportunity here is to get to meet people and to be able to bring their messages back to our government,” mentioned Anderson.
“Obviously with the global pandemic, it’s been a challenge. Now we’re finally seeing the tourism industry bounce back across British Columbia and we really want to be driving people into rural areas. That’s part of my mandate specifically, is looking at rural tourism so that we’re getting those tourism dollars spread across British Columbia and then we’re able to support the rural tourism sector and specifically looking at agricultural tourism.”
“So wine is a huge component of that and they’re really leaders in the agricultural industry.”
Meanwhile, there may be the local weather change influence as extraordinarily chilly temperatures might imply much less wine this season.
“As it comes along this season, we’re a little concerned about the winter, cold winter, and maybe the effects on that and we’re kind of watching that very closely,” mentioned Prodan.
Boundary-Similkameen MLA Roly Russell added that points surrounding labour shortages and allowing are additionally high of thoughts.
“We are working with five different ministers down in Victoria and their respective ministries. With Minister Alexis on agricultural front, trying to help focus in on some of the pieces that are in her portfolio, challenges around the winter die back, for example,” mentioned Russell.
“Working with Minister Farnworth and Public Safety Solicitor General around some of the distribution challenges — site licensing, if we’re at a place where you need half a dozen different permits to be able to deliver what you want to deliver, maybe we can help streamline and modernize some of that.”
Russell went on to say that also they are working with Minister Brenda Bailey on the financial entrance.
“Recognizing enormous potential in the industry, and how do we help lower some of those barriers and make sure we’re delivering the best, most straightforward opportunity for those producers,” mentioned Russell.
But regardless of these challenges, Wines of BC says the standard and worth of wine within the area received’t be impacted.
“Wines are superb and we are happy that BC consumers continue to support and enjoy our wine,” mentioned Prodan.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
