The Okanagan wine industry needs another year to get back on its feet.
So, the provincial government is extending the so-called 'grape replacement program' introduced last year into 2025.
A polar vortex in January 2024 killed grape buds and grapevines which meant barely any wine grape harvest in the fall of 2024.
Victoria approved 'replacement supports' so Okanagan wineries could buy grapes and juice from outside BC to keep production going and workers employed making 'Crafted in BC' wines to quench the thirst of wine buyers and wine tourists.
Most wineries looked directly south to Washington state for replacement grapes, but grapes and juice was also sourced from Oregon, California, Ontario and as far away as New Zealand.
Many grape vines died in the January 2024 deep freeze and have been replanted.
But, they won't yield grapes that can be used for wine for three or four years.
Meantime, vines that did survive, but didn't grow grapes in 2024, have come back gangbusters to produce lots of grapes this year.
But, overall, there's likely to be a shortfall of 10,000 tonnes of wine grapes to meet 2025's market demand.
Thus, the extension of the 'grape replacement program.'
"While 2025 gave us a strong harvest, it’s simply not enough to meet the scale of pre-freeze demand,” said BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham.
“We’re stepping up for one more year to ensure BC’s wine industry has the stability they need to recover fully, protect jobs, and continue producing the high-quality wines British Columbia is known for.”
Without continued support, many wineries warned layoffs would be imminent.
“This extension is a vital bridge from last year’s crisis toward a sustainable future for BC wine," said Jeff Guignard, president of Wine Growers BC.
"Without this support, we’ve heard directly from wineries who were days away from having to lay off staff. That’s how real the pressure is."
Wine Growers BC stressed that its mandate is to always promote grapes from the province first and foremost and to continue the legacy of 100% BC wines through the VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) program.
"Even with temporary supports extended, we’re still working to ensure industry looks local first so that every BC grape ends up on a bottle," said Guignard.
The BC Grapegrowers' Association is supporting viticulturalists and wineries in long-term recover.
“BC’s grape growing industry needs one more year to get back to full strength,” said association chair Bobby Ercego.
“This extension gives everyone—growers and wineries alike—a better shot at surviving this transitional period and coming out stronger on the other side.”
Over the next several weeks, Wine Growers BC will be working closely with partners such as the BC Grapegrowers Association, Liquor Distribution Branch and Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure wineries have the information and resources they need on truth-in-labelling policies for 2025, while also laying the groundwork for a coordinated industry plan for 2026.
The BC wine industry is worth $3.75 billion a year to the provincial economy and employs 14,000 full-time workers.
There are 350 wineries in BC and wine tourism attracts 1.2 million visitors a year.
