He’s helped lead us away from jug wine Up Front


By Bryden Winsby W


hen Richard Cleave arrived here in the mid-1970s, you'd hear words such as 'plonk' and


'porch-climber' to describe the quality of British Columbia wines, although the latter actually refers to a scary mixture of vodka, whisky, beer and pink lemonade.


The industry wasn't exactly in its infancy (the first vines in the province are believed to have been planted for the purpose of making sacramental wine at the Oblate mission in what is now Kelowna) but was having a difficult adolescence and bore little resemblance to what exists today.


The province began licensing estate wineries in 1980, and by the time the Canada-U.S. free trade agreement took effect in 1989, there were 13 registered wineries. There are now 248 grape wineries in five designated viticulture areas (299 total licensed wineries), of which 138 are members of the B.C. Wine Institute, accounting for more than 90 per cent of total grape wine sales in the province.


As you'll read in Susan McIver's cover story for this issue, Cleave has played a fundamental role in that phenomenal growth. His award-winning contributions have helped grape growers and winemakers produce exceptional vintages with varieties best suited to B.C. conditions.


Adapting to market and climate shifts is a never-ending process, of course. With predictions of warmer temperatures and more growing degree days in the decades ahead, the industry could evolve in more new directions. Opportunity in the alcoholic beverage sector hasn't gone unnoticed by the tree fruit industry. As private ciders continue to pop up around the province, the B.C. Tree Fruits Co-operative has launched one to make profitable use of perfectly good apples that wouldn't make it to retail shelves.


Associate editor Judie Steeves describes how the initial batch, a sparkler called Broken Ladder, is being produced and explains that a long-term objective is to improve returns for grower-members of the co-op. Finding ways to improve returns is a constant issue for the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association, and manifests


4 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2015


itself in many ways as reports and resolutions are presented during the BCFGA’s annual general meeting. This year’s was held Feb. 20-21 in Penticton, where delegates heard that it’s time to devise a strategy that can build


upon the successful ‘five-pillar’ approach adopted eight years ago. An important component of the new strategy will be making optimum use of new varieties, as you’ll read in Ms. Steeves’ coverage of the AGM. Elsewhere, she explains why taking full advantage of the latest orchard replant program means getting plans in place as soon as possible. Obtaining tress can be a challenge and there’s more paperwork involved.


Speaking of paperwork, it’s one reason why not everyone is happy about the provincial government’s certification proposal to regulate use of the term ‘organic.’ We’ve got opinions to share on both sides of the issue.


Pest management gets attention as the B.C. Grapegrowers Association intends to continue research into where our starling infestation


originated. And as its success controlling codling moth gains wider recognition, there’s reason to wonder why growers haven’t made better use of that fact to market their product. Back to the wine industry, Ms. McIver introduces Mark and Jackie Wendenburg, who operate a home- based brokerage that helps small operators sell their excess or purchase someone else’s. It’s the only one of its kind in the province, and so far has dealt with bulk sales ranging from 400 to 22,000 litres.


On the technical side, Gary Strachan delves into the somewhat melodramatic story of resveratrol, a compound that has been credited with giving red wine some of its healthful properties.


He also provides some insight into the causes and possible cures for withered grapes. There are numerous factors involved and understanding them won’t stop or reverse shrivel, but measures can be taken to avoid it in subsequent years. Cheers!


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36