February 22 8-9pm PST: What will the BC Wine Industry Look Like in 2017?

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Sandra Oldfield

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?

February 8, 2012 8-9pm PST: Ways to Boost Winery Tourism in BC–Part Une

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Sandra Oldfield

HERE’S HOW THE CHAT WENT:

WAYS TO BOOST WINERY TOURISM–PART UNE February 8, 2012

Wineries in BC rely heavily on tourism for their sales, and with 200 winery licenses in BC there are certainly plenty of wineries for tourists to choose to spend their money. What initiatives could BC wineries be doing that they are not doing to attract new visitors as well as to get return visits? Is promotion of wineries all about the regions in which the wineries are located or are there more provincial-wide promotions that should occur? What kind of amenities are BC wine tourists looking for when they travel? How good is the BC wine industry at changing to accommodate tourists’ needs and desires?

Come with your constructive comments and we’ll have a great discussion.

February 1, 2012 8-9pm PST: Vancouver Playhouse

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Sandra Oldfield

HERE’S HOW THE CHAT WENT:

VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE February 1, 2012

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival is now in its 34th year celebrating wines from around the globe. It attracts over 25,000 people with wine on their mind and features 1,700 wines from 15 countries. Each year the VPIWF focuses on a region and a wine and this year it is Wines of Chile and Cabernet(s) (Sauvignon and Franc).

What events and seminars still have tickets available? If you’re a consumer and this is your first Playhouse Wine Festival how do you tackle a room with that many wines in it? What seminars are you attending? If you are a winery, what gets you through the week without collapsing? Tips, recommendations for improvement, events you would like to see, complaints…all topics are fair game for this week’s #BCWineChat.

January 25 8-9pm PST: What’s Happening in BC Wineries this Week

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Sandra Oldfield

HERE’S HOW THE CHAT WENT:

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN BC WINERIES THIS WEEK January 25, 2012

We all know that British Columbia wineries are a great vacation destination in the warmer spring, summer and fall months, but so much happens at the wineries in the middle of winter. Here’s a great opportunity for consumers to find out what’s going on in the vineyards and cellars around the province this week.

January 18 8-9pm PST: Meaning of Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable and Natural Wines in BC

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Sandra Oldfield

HERE’S HOW THE CHAT WENT:

MEANING OF ORGANIC, BIODYNAMIC, SUSTAINABLE AND NATURAL WINES IN BC Jan 18

There are many resources for further reading on this wide-ranging topic. With respect to certified organic grapes and wines the Pacific Agricultural Certification Society in Vernon, BC is a good resource. It has links to the Canadian Organic Standards and Permitted Substances which are allowed in Canada.

Information of the biodynamic movement is found at Demeter-International.

Much work has taken place lately in BC with respect to creating sustainable practice guides for vineyards, wineries and winery hospitality. The guides are now for self assessment but there are plans to make the program certified by a third-party auditor.

January 11 8-9pm PST: BCLDB and Licensing Regulations for BC Wineries

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Sandra Oldfield

HERE IS HOW THE CHAT WENT:

BCLDB AND LICENSING REGULATIONS FOR BC WINERIES January 11, 2012

Many policies and regulations govern those who hold winery licenses in BC. The Terms and Conditions for Winery Licenses in BC show some of these, but there are also interpretations of what are stated here as policies.

In addition there is the Liquor Distribution Act which gives the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) the sole right to purchase beverage alcohol both within BC and from outside the province, in accordance with the federal Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act.

January 4, 8-9pm PST: BCLDB Regulations for Retailers and Restaurants

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Sandra Oldfield

HERE IS HOW THE CHAT WENT:

BCLDB REGULATIONS FOR RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS January 4, 2012

With a focus on BC wines (not rules governing imports), we will look at issues surrounding the selling of BC wines in retail shops and restaurants and how the BC Liquor Control Branch (LDB) is involved.

December 21 8-9pm PST: Interprovincial Wine Shipments in Canada

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Sandra Oldfield

HERE IS HOW THE CHAT WENT:

INTERPROVINCIAL WINE SHIPMENTS IN CANADA December 21, 2011

POST CHAT UPDATE:

Here is a SAMPLE LETTER you can send to your MP to show support for Federal Bill C-311, and here is the address of your Member of Parliament in Ottawa. This bill was introduced by MP Dan Albas of Okanagan-Coquihalla (@danalbas) Now is the time to show the Federal government that it is important that Canadians have better access to Candian-made wines!

Background information on this topic can be found throughout Mark Hicken’s site winelaw.ca. There has been a tremendous amount of activity on this topic in Ottawa lately with the introduction of Bill C-311. An overview of the 1928 law that governs interprovincial wine shipments in Canada can be read here.

Additional information is found on the www.freemygrapes.ca. This site includes great links and information and tells you how you can support amending our archaic liquor laws.