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Cover Story


Full agreement remains elusive


JUDIE STEEVES


Revamped regulatory framework for wine industry willmove ahead, though, as plebiscite results weremostly positive. By Judie Steeves


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lthough 10 of 11 questions put to members of the wine industry in June’s plebiscite got a ‘yes’ vote, that doesn’t mean everyone is in agreement about exactly how best to proceed to ensure high quality standards are maintained for B.C. wines.


In fact, even amongst members of the task group that formulated the questions there were compromises made in order for the industry to move forward. Such important issues as taste panel testing for Vintners Quality Alliance wines were set aside because agreement couldn’t be reached.


However, in a double majority of votes (meaning both by number of votes and quantity of production), the industry’s members voted in favour of mandating that the entire industry, from the three largest wineries to the many small operations, work within the same regulatory framework.


It would not be mandatory for all wineries to submit samples for testing to use the B.C. Wine label, but it would be for those wishing to be labelled B.C. VQA wines.


It was agreed that all wineries should have to register with the B.C. Wine


6 Rhys Pender


Authority if they produce wines made entirely from B.C. grapes and wish to use “B.C. wine” on their labels. Task group member Rhys Pender, who is a Master of Wine educator, wine judge and consultant, but who also has his own vineyard and small winery in Cawston, said he feels that both the smallest and the largest wineries were least supportive of the mandatory membership requirement for all licenced B.C. wineries.


“Small wineries are wary of more restrictions, but I think it makes common sense to have the same rules for everyone. The way it is now, there is room for abuse,” he commented. With such diversity within the province’s industry, it’s not easy for all to agree on the best way forward that benefits everyone equally.


With that in mind, Pender said overall, he was both surprised and pleased at the amount of industry support there was in the plebiscite vote.


He noted that all members on the task group were passionate about agreeing on a way forward for the industry to grow.


He admitted there was some resistance from the ‘old guard’ who pioneered the industry and set it on its current course, but most came around and recognized the importance of making some changes now. “This allows us to showcase a region instead of the whole Okanagan,” he explained. Initially, it was important for the Okanagan to be unified for global promotion.


Up to now, all wineries—including the smallest— have benefitted from the energy, efforts and money put into that promotion of the industry, but many haven’t paid into it.


“Personally, I don’t want any more paperwork either, but I agree it’s important we all be on the same page,” he commented.


Task group chair Ezra Cipes, CEO of Summerhill British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2016


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