Media Releases

For immediate release: 05/08/2026

British Columbia –  After years of headlines dominated by freezes, wildfires, and short harvests, BC wine has a different story to tell in 2025: one of recovery, resilience, and exceptional quality.

According to Wine Growers British Columbia’s (WGBC) newly released 2025 Vintage Report, authored by Rhys Pender, MW, this year’s vintage is shaping up to be one of BC’s strongest in recent memory.

Traditionally an insider’s snapshot of growing conditions, harvest patterns, and regional performance, the Vintage Report also answers the question many wine lovers are asking: what should I be drinking from BC this year?

The short answer? There’s a lot to be excited about.

A mild winter, early spring, and long, even growing season gave vineyards time to recover and thrive, producing both strong yields and high-quality fruit. The result is a vintage defined by balance, ripeness, and freshness, now arriving in tasting rooms, wine shops, restaurants, and retail stores throughout BC.

Standout varietals from the Okanagan Valley include Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Viognier. On Vancouver Island, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are showing particularly well in both still and sparkling wines. In the Fraser Valley, producers are turning heads with varietals like Bacchus, Siegerrebe, and Gamay.

“After two very challenging years, 2025 is showing itself as a vintage of transition and rebirth for BC wine,” said Jenna Briscoe, This is Wine School, DipWSET. “Delivering both quantity and quality, it allowed wineries to refill their tanks with 100 per cent BC-grown wine and celebrate with confidence.”

The release of the 2025 vintage also comes at an important moment for BC consumers increasingly looking to support local agriculture, tourism, and small businesses.

“Every bottle of BC wine represents local jobs, family farms, tourism, hospitality, and communities across the province,” said Jeff Guignard, President and CEO of WGBC. “After everything this industry has endured over the past several years, there’s something especially meaningful about seeing a truly great BC vintage back on shelves and tables again.”

Vintage 2025 wines are now available through Save-On-Foods, BC Liquor Stores, private liquor retailers, restaurants, and directly from wineries across the province.

Wine Growers BC encourages consumers to discover and support local by:

• Planning trips to BC wine country using the Winery Finder at WineBC.com
• Looking for 100% BC-grown wines at local retailers
• Ordering BC wine at restaurants participating in the Pour More BC program

Whether it’s a weekend tasting, a dinner with friends, or a bottle shared around the table, the 2025 vintage is a powerful reminder of what makes BC wine special.

WGBC welcomes media inquiries for interviews, vineyard and winery visits, b-roll, vintage statistics, and expert commentary.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Kelly Josephson, Wine Growers BC
Director, Communications
KJosephson@WineBC.com
M: 250-869-2476

ABOUT WINE GROWERS BRITISH COLUMBIA

Since 1990, WGBC has played a pivotal role in taking BC’s wine industry from a vision to an internationally recognized niche region producing premium wines and providing exceptional wine tourism experiences. WGBC markets the wine and regions of BC; delivers quality trade, media and consumer tastings; and acts as the voice of BC’s wine industry by advocating to government on behalf of industry that contributes $3.75 billion in provincial economic growth annually.

WGBC represents all wineries in British Columbia to grow the premium market share for the Wines of British Columbia, while driving awareness of our world-class wines and tourism product – as of 2019 drawing 1,191,500 visitors with $783.7million in tourism and tourism employment related economic impact on an annual basis.

For more information about Wine Growers BC programs and services, please visit WineBC.com.
For details on the Wines of British Columbia, go to WineBC.com.

Quick Facts:  

• The BC wine industry generates approximately $3.75 billion annually, contributes over $440 million in federal and provincial tax revenues, and employs over 14,000-plus full-time workers.
• BC wine tourism draws an annual estimated 1 million tourists with $452 million in tourism-related revenue, and $147 million in wages across 2,615 tourism-related jobs.
• For every bottle of BC wine sold, $105 contributes to the regional and national economy.