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BC To Ramp Up Wine Promotions

Feb 14, 2018 | 4:27 PM

Expect to see more promotions for BC wines when you visit public liquor stores this spring.

Due to Alberta’s boycott, the province is ramping up support of the industry by proclaiming April as BC Wine Month, including more smaller and medium wines sold in BC Liquor stores, more in-store tastings, and more funding for international marketing.

BC’s wine industry employs about 12,000 people, and has an economic impact of $2.8 billion annually.

“BC’s wine industry is made up of family-run vineyards and wineries that have chosen farming and wine-making as their passion and their profession,” says Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham. “In addition to delivering fantastic wine, they also provide good jobs in communities throughout the province, and we are proud to shine a spotlight on the work they do and the wine they make. We told British Columbians we would fight for our wine-making community, and devoting an entire month to B.C. wines is a wonderful way to do just that.”

“We are grateful for the loyalty and support we have received from the consumers across B.C. and Canada in response to Alberta’s announcement to boycott B.C. wine,” says Miles Prodan, president and CEO of the BC Wine Institute. “We appreciate the Province’s quick response in support of B.C.’s wineries, and we remain resolute in our mission to secure sales opportunities here in B.C. for the many B.C. grape wineries across the province, most of which are small, family-owned-and-operated businesses, and will continue to promote our local world-class products at home and abroad.”

Quick Facts:

* B.C. is home to 929 vineyards, including over 350 licensed wineries.

* There are just under 3,900 hectares of wine grapes grown in B.C.

* Over 60 different grape varieties are produced in the province, including Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

* In 2016, B.C. wine exports increased 4% over the previous year to $9.7 million shipped to 17 international markets.

* Ice wine exports were $1.8 million of the total.

* The top markets for B.C. wine were China (54%), Taiwan (23%) and the United States (11%).

Photo courtesy of winebc.org