Between the Vines


Grape acreage growth slowing


Merlot remains top variety; ‘virtual’ wineries a concern, report notes.


By Judie Steeves M


erlot is still the most-planted grape variety in B.C., followed by Pinot Gris, but Pinot Noir has replaced Chardonnay as the third most-planted, according to the 2014 B.C. Wine Grape Acreage Report. And, although grape acreage is increasing still, that growth has slowed.


A new and controversial


development is the number of ‘virtual’ wineries, those not licensed but producing wine under another winery’s license. That allows them to operate whether or not they own land, and they can source their grapes from anywhere and sell the wine under their own name.


There are now at least 17 of them in the province, according to the report. It was prepared by Lynn Bremmer of Kobau Wine Services Ltd., and funded by the federal and provincial ministries of agriculture through Investment Agriculture, as well as the B.C. Grapegrowers Association, the B.C. Wine Grape Council and the B.C. Wine Institute.


This year’s report reveals there are 10,260 acres (4,152 ha) of wine grapes, up 4.1 per cent from the 2011 report, which showed acreage was up 8.7 per cent over 2008. There was double- digit growth during the previous six years.


There are now 929 vineyards, 65 more than in 2011, with 67 per cent winery-owned or leased; and there are 254 grape wineries in the province, up 21 per cent from 210 in 2011. Winery-owned or leased vineyard makes up 67.2 per cent of the total acreage, while 32.8 per cent is independent grape grower-owned or leased. The average winery vineyard size is 11.34 hectares, while the average


independent grower vineyard size is 2.41 hectares.


Of the total vineyards, 84 per cent are in the Okanagan Valley, with smaller numbers in the Similkameen Valley, Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley, B.C. Gulf Island geographical regions, and the rest of B.C.


The largest number of vineyards is in Oliver, followed by Osoyoos and then the Kelowna/West Kelowna area and the Penticton/Naramata area. However, the largest number of licensed wineries is in the Penticton/Naramata area, followed by Oliver, then Kelowna/West Kelowna and Vancouver Island.


Of the total acreage, 49 per cent is in white grapes and 97 per cent in viniferas. The top 10 wine grape varieties in that total acreage are: Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. While Pinot Noir has overtaken Chardonnay in third place and Cab Franc has overtaken Syrah as the seventh most planted, other than that, the top varieties remain in the same position as three years ago. There are seven major white wine grape varietals grown: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Viognier. More than 31 other varietals make up the rest, but 98 per cent in total are viniferas. There are five major red wine grapes: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah (Shiraz). More than 32 other varietals make up the rest, with 96 per cent of the total viniferas.


Not surprisingly, the ‘big red’ varieties are grown predominantly in the Osoyoos and Oliver areas, while aromatic whites are the focus further north in the valley.


With current planted acreage, the potential wine production is forecast to increase from 20,855,450 litres (at 550


litres/ton) in 2014 to 21,557,800 in 2015; 22,107,800 in 2016, 22,656,150 in 2017 and 23,190,750 in 2018. Miles Prodan, president of the B.C.Wine Institute, noted that the focus has shifted from production of a larger quantity of grapes to production of high-quality fruit, indicating a ‘maturity’ in the B.C. industry. “This focus on the continual improvement in the quality of wines can be measured in the record level of B.C. VQA market share here in B.C. and overwhelming recognition in international competitions,” he added. Canada’s wine industry is


insignificant in size compared to that of the U.S., with 10,000 acres in B.C. and 17,000 in Ontario, compared to 45,000 in Washington State, 20,000 in Oregon and 570,000 in California. The number of wineries in B.C. is 254 and in Ontario, 235, compared to 750 in Washington, 543 in Oregon and 3,882 in California.


The 2014 report on fresh market grapes shows there are 24 growers tending 37 hectares, predominantly in the Kelowna area, where 81 per cent of the grapes are grown on 74 acres. Most are Coronation table grapes, with 30 hectares planted to the distinctive variety developed locally at the Pacific Agri-food Research Centre in Summerland.


Einset are grown on three hectares, while Bath are grown on two.


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2014-15 15


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