Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture Application Window

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The Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture (EWP) Program invites farm and ranch businesses to apply for a new provincial cost-share funding opportunity that aims to increase farm-level climate resilience to extreme weather events.

Funding for the first intake is available under four streams:

Applications will be accepted through the IAF Client Portal starting on January 23, 2024, on an ongoing basis until funds are fully committed. Project start date is April 1, 2024. All projects must be completed by or before March 14, 2025.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY

Program Goal

To increase the resilience of BC agriculture operations by providing cost-share reimbursements to farm or agriculture businesses to address risks related to wildfire, flooding, and extreme heat.

Program Objective

  • To reduce farmers’ direct costs for infrastructure required after extreme weather events (flood, wildfire, heat wave)
  • To restore ecosystems and water quality as a co-benefits

 

Eligible Activities Categories Cost-Share Ratio Funding Limits
Wildfire Preparedness 

Note: Required FireSmart Critical Infrastructure Assessment 100% cost-share, activity cap of $2,000

 40% $50,000
Flood Preparedness 40% $50,000
Extreme Heat Preparedness 40% $50,000
Innovation Projects 40% $50,000

Tourism Digital Academy

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The Tourism Digital Academy is a free, eight-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses that want to build their knowledge and skills in digital marketing to an intermediate level. From setting goals to building a better understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing, and analytics, the program instills confidence and knowledge so participants can put their plans into action. The next winter intake starts January 23 and runs until March 13, with a live session taking place weekly. There are still spaces available, so register today!

LEARN MORE

 

LDB Promotions Deadlines

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Deadlines and themes for FY25 P7 October, P8 November, P9 December

All applications are to be submitted electronically on or before deadline as follows:

*Please note: Typically, thematic applications are for multiple agents

Themes for October, November, and December

For October through to December, priorities are top selling brands that necessitate holding power and can be refreshed monthly with new activations across October/November/December. In addition, BCL will be focused on the below categories/themes:

  • October: Fall/seasonal flavours, Thanksgiving
  • November/December: Cream liqueurs, Single Malts, Sparkling Wine (December)

Reminder that Q2 & Q3 advance pricing submissions are due March 8th, 2024.

Should you have any further questions, please email promotions@bcliquorstores.com

Decanter Sample Call

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Wine writer and editor Nicole MacKay is seeking Gamay samples for an upcoming article on Decanter.com. The online feature (which will live behind the Decanter paywall) will include an overview of Gamay winemaking in BC and Ontario and consist of scores and tasting notes for up to 15 bottles (still wine only and current vintage).

For instruction and details log in to your member portal account: https://winebc.com/industry/login/

The content on this page is exclusive to Wine Growers British Columbia member wineries. You must be logged in to your member account to reveal the content. Log in here.

Not yet a WGBC member? Consider joining BC’s leading trade association. Learn more about becoming a member here.

Group Onboarding with Sustainable Winegrowing BC

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Be guided through every step of the application.

Bring your laptop and your questions! Program Manager, Ruth King, and one of the SWBC auditors will be there to help you every step of the way.

Where: Okanagan College, Penticton – BCBTAC Sensory Lab, PC 256, 853 Duncan Ave W

When: February 21, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

What to expect:

  • Q&A about SWBC
  • Account set up
  • Assessment completion with guidance
  • Document collection to prep for audit
  • Audit booking

For registration and further info email Ruth at info@sustainablewinegrowingbc.ca or call 250-575-6515

Vancouver International Wine Festival

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The 45th Vancouver International Wine Festival is scheduled to take place February 24-March 3, 2024, featuring Italy as the theme country; the inaugural year was 1979. The board chair is Arv Sooch; executive director is Harry Hertscheg CWE, DipWSET.

The wine world comes to Vancouver for Canada’s premier wine show. The Vancouver International Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine events in the world, offering something for every level of wine drinker, collector and trade professional. In 2023, the festival featured 147 wineries from 17 countries, pouring and discussing their wines at 36 events over eight days.

The heart of the festival is the International Festival Tastings at the Vancouver Convention Centre, where each winery pours 4-5 wines for the public at four International Festival Tastings and for the hospitality industry at two Trade Tastings. The room also features food suppliers and industry exhibitors, including media and suppliers. Included in the price of each ticket is the opportunity to shop at the onsite BC Liquor Store where all wines served at the International Festival Tastings are available for purchase and can be delivered at no charge to any BC Liquor Store.

Additional wines are served at special events orbiting the tasting room, including a gala dinner and auction, wine seminars, trade events, and food and wine pairing affairs at top Vancouver restaurants and hotels.

BROWSE ALL VAN WINE FEST EVENTS

Sustainable Future of BC Wine Seminar at The Vancouver International Wine Festival Trade Days

March 1, 2024 – 9:30 AM to 11:15 PM

Join an esteemed panel of winemakers and industry experts to taste your way across British Columbia – exploring five of BC’s nine growing regions. Panelists will discuss the complexities of each region and share the sustainable practices BC’s winemakers and grapegrowers are employing in their region to ensure the continued health and vitality of their land and the future of the BC wine industry.

Moderators: Kelcie Jones, Ross Wise MW
Principals: Michael Alexander, Patrick Blandin, Jean-Marc Enixon, Felix Egerer, Michael Kullmann, Alessandro Nel

Sponsored by Wines of British Columbia

Featured wines:

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Traditional Cuvée 2004, Kelowna
Culmina Family Estate Winery Decora Riesling 2020, Oliver
Unsworth Vineyards Saison Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Cowichan Valley
Cannon Estate Winery Fleur Bleue 2021, Fraser Valley
Osoyoos Larose Grand Vin 2020, Osoyoos
Fort Berens Estate Winery Red Gold Reserve 2020, Lillooet

Event details subject to change

Trade events are available only to those in the wine, restaurant and hospitality industries who buy, sell, serve or market wine in their business. Registration is required.

BUY TICKETS

 

Export Call for BC Riesling

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A Finnish importer operating in Finland and Estonia, is looking for a Canadian Riesling based on Alko Inc.’s latest tender request listing.

Offer valid until: 30.04.2024

Product type: white wine, Riesling
Type of search: Speciality products
Supplementary type: dry or medium dry; maximum sugar amount 12 g/l
Alcohol by vol. minimum 10.0 percent by volume
Availability: number of bottles to be indicated on the offer
Container: 0.75-litre bottle
Product region: Canadian

Distribution level: Speciality products
Listing month estimate 2024 March

Vintage: vintage wine
Customer type: Classic enthusiast, The happy medium

Other requirements
• Grape variety Riesling (100%).
• The grape variety must appear on the label.
• The region of production must be indicated on the offer and on the label.
• Sugar content (g/l) and total acidity in tartaric acid (g/l) must be indicated on the offer.
• Screw cap closure.
• The product must be delivered in maximum cases of 6 bottles.
• Registration in the recycling system will be advantageous.
• Product feature enabling Alko’s Green choice -symbol will be advantageous.
• Several products can be bought from this tender.
• Volume estimation 600 litres/4 months.
• More accurate sales estimates will be given at the time of purchase when listing is confirmed.
• Specialty period 28.3.2024 – 31.7.2024.

Interested parties should contact:

Nina Tiittanen
Trade Commissioner Assistant
nina.tiittanen@international.gc.ca
Telephone + 358 9 228 530 / + 358 9 228 53 351 (dir.)
Cell: + 358 40 706 0080
Pohjoisesplanadi 25 B
P. O. Box / BP 779, FI-00101 HELSINKI FINLAND FINLANDE
www.Canada.ca/Canada-and-Finland
Embassy of Canada / Ambassade du Canada

Wines of BC Trade Days Seminar

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Sustainable Future of BC Wine Seminar at The Vancouver International Wine Festival Trade Days

Join an esteemed panel of winemakers and industry experts to taste your way across British Columbia – exploring five of BC’s nine growing regions. Panelists will discuss the complexities of each region and share the sustainable practices BC’s winemakers and grapegrowers are employing in their region to ensure the continued health and vitality of their land and the future of the BC wine industry.

Moderators: Kelcie Jones, Ross Wise MW
Principals: Michael Alexander, Patrick Blandin, Jean-Marc Enixon, Felix Egerer, Michael Kullmann, Alessandro Nel

Sponsored by Wines of British Columbia

Featured wines:

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Traditional Cuvée 2004, Kelowna
Culmina Family Estate Winery Decora Riesling 2020, Oliver
Unsworth Vineyards Saison Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Cowichan Valley
Cannon Estate Winery Fleur Bleue 2021, Fraser Valley
Osoyoos Larose Grand Vin 2020, Osoyoos
Fort Berens Estate Winery Red Gold Reserve 2020, Lillooet

Event details subject to change

Trade events are available only to those in the wine, restaurant and hospitality industries who buy, sell, serve or market wine in their business. Registration is required.

BUY TICKETS

 

BC WINE INDUSTRY INSIGHT CONFERENCE

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Wine Growers British Columbia, in partnership with the BC Wine Grape Council, BC Wine Authority, and BC Grapegrowers’ Association are thrilled to host the annual Insight Conference for the BC wine industry on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. This years’ conference will be hosted in person in Penticton, BC, on the unceded territory of the Okanagan (Syilx) People.

When: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Where: Penticton Trade & Convention Centre, Penticton, BC

The theme for the conference has been announced as Resilience and Renewal: Crafting the Future of BC Wine Together, which speaks to the momentum behind collaboration in the wine industry and the shared goal of a sustainable and profitable future. Together, our industry is stronger.

LEARN MORE

The conference is currently sold out. Join the waitlist here.

BC Wine Awards Registration

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Welcome to the 2024 British Columbia Wine Awards – the British Columbia wine judging competition that recognizes excellence in winemaking for all British Columbia wineries. In 2018, the BC Wine Awards which were established in 1982, partnered with the Lieutenant Governor’s office. This partnership was for a five-year term only, so in 2024 the awards will revert to their original name. These awards offer our British Columbia wine industry the opportunity to have their wines judged in a blind tasting by 15 of the most respected wine judges from Western Canada. For 2024, the awards will be presented as BC’s Top 50 to the top scoring wines. Winners will be recognized in a comprehensive public relations and sales campaign organized by the Okanagan Wine Festivals.

British Columbia Wine Awards:

OWFS Member wineries: 2 free entries, additional entries are $98.00 + GST
Non-member wineries: All entries are $130.00 + GST

REGISTER HERE

 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY

  • Wineries are members in good standing of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society (OWFS) or wineries based in British Columbia. Wineries that have not joined and paid their memberships are able to register online for the British Columbia Wine Awards at the non-member fee.
  • The wine is labeled and bottled and has a UPC.
  • Table wines have an inventory of 50 cases and specialty wines have an inventory of 25 cases at the start of the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival on June 7th, 2024.
  • Wine must be made from 100% BC grown grapes, or 100% BC grown fruit.
  • There are no restrictions on the vintage that a winery can enter.
  • There is a maximum of 5 wines per winery for entry.
  • If a wine entered has been awarded a gold medal or higher in a previous British Columbia Wine Awards competition, that particular vintage may not be entered again into this competition.

FEES AND ENTRY DEADLINES

  • Three(3) bottles plus an entry fee of $98.00 + GST per wine entered must accompany each wine entered if you are a winery that is a member of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society. If you are a non-member winery, the entry fee per bottle is only $130.00 + GST. All entries are registered online and payment is required at that time.
  • All Entry forms and payments are to be completed ONLINE at www.thewinefestivals.com.
  • The deadline for entries is May 1st, 2024

KEY DATES:

  • Deadline to enter your wines is May 1st, 2024
  • Wine deliveries accepted at ContainerWorld Kelowna delivery dates will be confirmed shortly.
  • Three (3) bottles of each wine entered must be delivered to ContainerWorld’s Kelowna warehouse 333 Penno Road, Kelowna, BC, V1X YW5. Wines may be delivered between May 6 to 20th, 2024
  • Every entry must be boxed and labeled on at least two sides. Regulation Labels will be provided in advance of shipping.

We look forward to promoting your wines at the 2024 British Columbia Wine Awards and wish each winery the best of success.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at kimberly@thewinefestivals.com