And, please do drink red, rosé and sparkling as well! But I think drinking white after September 1 is an act of defiance, like wearing white shoes or light-coloured clothing to show summer you are not ready to let it go while telling fall you are not ready to toast it in. It’s also the best month to visit British Colombia’s wineries and finding reasonably-priced accommodations prior to the harvest. To note, due to the severe weather events wineries and vineyards have endured over the last few years, most wineries will either have a small harvest or none at all, but they DO have wine.
It’s not only timely, but also crucial to support the wineries and hospitality sector right now. B.C. wineries are open for guests, wine tastings, tours and purchasing wines. With DTC deliveries reinstated to Alberta (not without its concessions and costs) efforts have also been made to support B.C. wineries for the loss of the 2024 vintage. A dozen or so wineries – and there will be more — are taking advantage of the option to buy grapes or juice out of province and/or across the Canada/US border. The economic reality is B.C.’s wine industry generates $3.75 billion annually and about 14,000 full-time jobs. The funny-not-so-funny thing is, once again, there is a Wine Surplus in Ontario and one in Washington now as well. The difference is Washington’s vineyards and grapes are nearer to B.C. with relatively the same terroir. However, it would be great if a made-in-Canada solution could be found for times like these; although not a new idea, perhaps the time for a Canada-wide VQA designation has come.
The supports will take effect April 1, 2025 until March 31, 2026. More information on eligibility and related requirements will be provided to the industry in the fall of 2024. “This will give affected wineries financial certainty if they choose to enter into contracts now, source non-BC grapes and grape juice, retain jobs and skilled resources in BC, and plan for production of a 2024 replacement vintage.” See the full press release from the Solicitor General and Public Safety here:
Relief for BC Wineries 2024 Vintage and Jobs
But like everything else… it’s complicated. Calculation of the Support Cap for 2024 Replacement Wines works for some but not for others. Wineries are generally finding their cap is lower than they expected. A great article on this by Sean P. Sullivan, founder, editor, and publisher of Northwest Wine Report can be found here: BC Relief Plan for Local Wineries local-wineries
While I am soapboxing…it is becoming increasingly obvious that the political powers that exist are not necessarily on the side of the taxpaying public but rather promoting their own agenda in the name of so-called ‘progress’. We see this everywhere now including where I live. However, it is criminal when it happens to a pristine and super environmentally sensitive area. Please read this critical message about Summerland’s Garnet Valley in wine country here: Urgent Appeal (garnet-valley.com) and PLEASE also do something about it.
My blog has no political agenda, but I am all about wine education and knowledge… and it’s not always about the wine itself. That said, here are some amazing made-in-British Columbia wines recently tasted (in alphabetical order):