B.C. lets wineries import grapes for 2024 vintages after 'devastating' winter losses

A picker collects grapes at the Okanagan Valley's River Stone Estate Winery in Oliver, B.C., Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

The B.C. government says wineries can import grapes and juice to make their 2024 vintages after "devastating" losses this winter.

The province says allowing winemakers to import grapes from outside B.C. is a "temporary measure" to prop-up hundreds of wineries and thousands of jobs after freezing weather wiped out this year's harvest.

Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says financially supporting the wineries will "protect jobs and maintain the cultural and economic vitality" of the industry.

The province says wineries indicated January's "deep freeze" in the Okanagan that sent temperatures down to -20 C for several days had resulted in 90 per cent loss of grape production and damaged an estimated 15 per cent of vines.

The B.C. government says the support measures will run from April 2025 until March 2026.

Wine Growers British Columbia says wine made with imported ingredients will not be marketed or labelled as B.C. products.

President Miles Prodan says the grape losses had "threatened the viability" of the industry.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2024.