Photo courtesy of TOTA
BC Terroir
Victoria has changed the provincial regulation that governs how B.C. wineries label their wines to include three recommendations from the industry.
- B.C. wines that have an approved sub-geographical indication on the label, such as Golden Mile Bench, also must have the larger geographical identifier, Okanagan Valley, on the label.
- Future votes on new sub-geographical regions will also be open to grape growers who do not produce wine.
- Wines produced in a proposed new subregion no longer must consistently demonstrate specific distinctive characteristics linked to the terroir.
As a follow up to the results of a B.C. wine industry plebiscite the B.C. government has updated the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation so B.C. wineries can more easily identify and promote the terroir and flavours specific to the areas where their grapes and wines are produced.
"This is great progress for the B.C. wine industry," said Ezra Cipes, CEO Summerhill Pyramid Winery. "Adding these details to B.C.'s wine map will help international markets understand the enthusiasm for our land and the beauty of our wines. ”
Geographic indications are a standard element of the various appellation systems that exist in B.C. and around the world and simultaneously help consumers identify wines in the marketplace and provide assurance to shoppers of the origin and quality of the wine.
The new regulation supports the process of making official sub-geographical indications easier, and includes B.C. wine grape growers that do not produce wine, as well as wineries, in the process.
The changes are the first to follow the work of the Wine Appellation Task Group, which oversaw an industry led review of the appellation system for wines produced from 100% B.C. grapes.
