KELOWNA – With more than 50 years’ of service to BC’s grape industry, John Vielvoye was critical in helping the BC grape industry navigate key changes while playing a critical role in the development of BC’s modern wine industry as the province’s grape specialist. Now retired, Vielvoye was honoured in April with the first lifetime …
grapes
Grapegrowers share sustainability objectives
PENTICTON – It was an all-wine grapes meeting when the two groups that represent the sector met together for the first time in Penticton in early April. Kathy Malone, winemaker at Hillside Winery in Naramata and chair of the BC Wine Grape Council (BCWGC) tipped her glass to the BC Grapegrowers’ Association (BCGA) for hosting …
Vineyards escape cold damage
Orchards and vineyards appear to have weathered February’s cold snap, according to research scientists at the Summerland Research and Development Centre. Samples submitted by viticulture managers for Arterra Wines Canada Inc. (formerly Vincor) and Sebastian Farms, a division of Von Mandl Family Estates in West Kelowna, undergo testing at Summerland every two weeks by plant …
Vineyard deals
While all signs point to record grape harvests in BC and further south along the West Coast of the US, demand for Okanagan vineyard land continues. Farm Credit Canada highlighted the phenomenon in its annual report on farmland values earlier this year, with FCC senior relationship manager Amos Rossworm noting that purchases were driven by …
Research is a focus of BC’s grape and wine sector
The British Columbia grape and wine industry began investing in research around 15 years ago, first with levies collected under the research and development committee of the BC Wine Institute and, since 2006, through the British Columbia Wine Grape Council (BCWGC), established under the BC Farming and Fishing Industries Development Act. The grower and winery …