British Columbia Wine Institute

The Okanagan is the heart of BC’s wine country, and a visit to the Okanagan isn’t complete without a visit to one of the many winery tasting rooms, a winery or vineyard tour, or lunch or dinner at of one of the excellent winery restaurants. In fact, many people come here just for the purpose of wine touring. BC wines have gone from good to great in recent years, and our spectacular vineyards producing premium quality wines that regularly win national and international wine competitions.

Leading the drive to quality wines and quality wine tourism experiences is the British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI), the association of BC wineries that produce Vintner’s Quality Alliance (VQA) wine. VQA is a set of established standards for 100 per cent British Columbia wine. When consumers see the VQA label, they know they’re getting a premium wine made to exacting standards and approved by our tasting panel.

The BCWI is also responsible for marketing the BC VQA wine brand and the Wine Regions of British Columbia brand. The BCWI web site provides a list of member wineries, maps and directions on how to get to them, events, suggestions on wine pairings, and a list of stores which sell BC VQA wine only.

Even though grapes have flourished under the warm Okanagan sun since the 1860s, it took time for the vision and spirit of the people who planted the first vines and pressed the first grapes to put British Columbia on the wine map of the world. BC wine’s star began to rise in 1990. Around that time, wineries and grapegrowers replanted vineyards merlot, chardonnay, riesling, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and other quality European varietals. Also that year, Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) standards came in, and the way people thought about BC wine was changed forever. Since then, BC’s wine industry has grown from 14 to over a hundred wineries in 2005, with some 70 in the Thompson Okanagan.

More about the BC Wine Institute
The British Columbia Wine Institute was created by an act of the provincial legislature in 1990 as part of a strategic plan developed by the industry and government to create an internationally competitive wine industry. Participation in BCWI programs is open to all grape producers and wine processors in the province. The BCWI estimates that its members represent over 90% of the grape and wine production in the province.

The majority of funding for BCWI operations and programs is derived from levies and fees paid by its members. Both growers and wineries pay a levy based on grape tonnage, and user fees are charged for wine certification and for participation in some of the other programs provided. The BCWI also participates in government-supported programs available for market development, industry development and export trade development.

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