in 10weeks, compared to two to three years tomake and age grapewines. According to the B.C. Liquor
Distribution Branch, the sale of B.C. fruitwine has increased by 26 per cent since 2008, fromannual sales of $3,273,395 to $4,115,074 respectively. Like the early days of B.C.wine
industry, the continued growth of the marketwill depend on the ability of the industry to keep improving the quality of thewines that they offer and educating consumers. “Two things come tomindwhen you
talk to people about fruitwines – one is that it’s something grandpamakes in the basement, and the other is that it is offensively sweet.We have to educate the public that there ismore to fruit wine than that,” saysO’Brennan. “We havewon 25 international
medals againstwineries fromCanada, theU.S. and around theworld. It says something about industry on thewhole if you can be competing at a level like that, and thewhole industry benefits fromhavingmore people committed to making good qualitywines,” he adds. Clearly themessage is getting out, and
an increasing number of people are giving berrywines a chance. “Fruitwine is perceived as a little less
pretentious, so people are happy to wade in if they are neophytewine drinkers,” says Bowman. “Traditional agriculture is under a lot of pressure, and being able to value add is important. I believe that fruitwine is an expandingmarket.”
So you want to start a fruit winery…
THE RULES: The Liquor Control and Licensing Act controls all production and sale of wine
in B.C. The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) is the government agency that administers the act. To produce and/or sell wine at your winery, you must first obtain a winery
licence. In order to qualify for the license, you must manufacture your own product and have enough equipment to produce at least 4,500 litres each year. The license entitles you to: • Sell the product to restaurants, other licensed wineries, licensee retail stores and any other stores designated by the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB).
• Operate an on-site retail wine shop (a separate on-site operating agreement with the LDB is required).
• Offer customers samples of the product in designated areas of the winery. You also must acquire any applicable federal licences from the Canada
Revenue Agency – Excise Duty Pacific Region. Rules allow new fruit wineries to make wine from purchased fruit during their
first three years in business. After that, B.C. fruit wineries must produce at least 25 per cent of the fruit used in their wines to qualify for tax status as a land- based winery.
THEWISDOM: Starting a fruit winery is not all romantic—it’s a big investment in time,
money and learning. Research, research, research. Have a good business plan, know your market, and make sure you have the cash flow to sustain the start-up. The higher the quality fruit that goes in, the better the wine. FruitWines of
Canada National Quality Standards and Regulations were developed by the National FruitWine Committee, a group with representatives from each region of Canada that commercially manufactures fruit wine under provincial license. Take the time to work through the details, and bring in the technical support
and expertise you need to learn the art and business of making wine. —T
amaraLeigh
If you or your organization would like additional copies of BCBerry Grower, just let us know! Provide the names and complete addresses of the recipients and we’ll add them to our mailing list ... at no cost! Just email
growersubs@omedia.ca
UNIRAM THE WORLDS MOST ADVANCED DRIPLINE
CHILLIWACK 44160 Yale Road West LETHBRIDGE 3305 - 2nd Ave. North
8 British Columbia Berry Grower • Winter 2013-14 1.800.663.2615 1.877.663.2615
www.southernirrigation.com
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