Media Releases

KELOWNA, BC (Sept. 22, 2025) – Wine Growers BC (WGBC) is pleased to announce that the Government of British Columbia is extending support for local wineries still recovering from the catastrophic polar vortex of January 2024, which caused widespread damage to vineyards. Continuing this support for one more year will help wineries maintain operations and keep skilled workers employed while newly replanted vines mature.

Temporary vintage replacement supports, first introduced in 2024 to help wineries bridge the gap in grape supply, will be extended through the 2025 production year. This critical support will allow eligible wineries to craft wines in BC with grapes or juice from outside the province, complementing the 100% BC wines of 2025 and sustaining consumer supply into 2026.

Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, said the extension reflects the province’s commitment to the long-term sustainability of BC’s wine industry.

“Last year’s freeze was the most devastating event to hit BC vineyards in decades. While 2025 gave us a strong harvest, it’s simply not enough to meet the scale of pre-freeze demand,” said Minister 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.”

Despite a strong growing season in 2025, both the BC Grapegrowers Association and Wine Growers BC estimate the province remains more than 10,000 tonnes short of the wine grapes required to meet market demand. Replanting is underway across the province, but it takes time for young vines to establish and deliver a full harvest. Without continued support, many wineries warned layoffs would be imminent.

Jeff Guignard, President and CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia, thanked the government for taking action to support industry as it continues to rebuild.

“This extension is a vital bridge from last year’s crisis toward a sustainable future for BC wine. 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,” said Guignard.

Guignard also stressed that, “WGBC will always promote BC grapes first, and we remain relentlessly committed to the integrity and quality of BC VQA wines—now and in future. 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.”

Bobby Ercego, Chair of the BC Grapegrowers Association, stressed that wineries and grape growers are working in partnership toward long-term recovery.

“BC’s grapegrowing industry needs one more year to get back to full strength,” said 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, WGBC will be working closely with partners such as the BCGA, LDB, and CFIA 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.

“For a second year, consumers will have the opportunity to discover these wines alongside 100% BC wines, continuing to support the wineries they cherish and ensuring our wine industry remains a vibrant pillar of BC’s tourism, culture, and way of life,” said Guignard.

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Quick Facts:

• The wine industry generates approximately $3.75 billion annually for BC and employs more than 14,000 full-time workers.
• There are approximately 350 licensed grape wine wineries in British Columbia as of June 2024.
• Each year, BC’s wineries welcome nearly 1.2 million visitors.
• This vibrant industry generates revenue for government directly through sales and indirectly by providing jobs throughout the supply chain and in related sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.

For more information, contact:

Kelly Josephson, Acting Communications Director

250.762.9744 ext. 114

KJosephson@WineBC.com