HERE’S HOW THE CHAT WENT:

WHAT WILL THE BC WINE INDUSTRY LOOK LIKE IN 2017?

Here’s a quick look back at the BC wine industry in the past few years: (most data courtesy the BC Wine Institute–thank you!)

• There are 196 winery licenses in BC right now.  Five years ago that number was 134.
•  In 2008 there were 9,100 acres of vineyards and only 4 years before that there was only 5,462acres. Today there are 710 vineyards (both winery owned and independent growers)
• Per capita consumption of wine in BC is 15.9 liters per annum (average for Canada is 13.1 liters) with British Columbians drinking 49% white v 51% red wines (via Statistics Canada)
• In 2010 BC VQA wines sold for an average of $17.54 per bottle whereas five years before in 2005 the average price was $15.47
• The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch of BC website says they are not accepting applications at this time for new licensee liquor stores or for off-site retail wine stores.

Where will we be in 5 years?  Will we see our industry contract, gradually expand or boom?  Will British Columbians still be paying the prices they are for BC wines or will they look elsewhere for better value?  Will there be more or less wine shops in BC?  This is one hour of imagination–where will our industry be 5 years from now?