BC Gov’t sets quality standards for BC wines

From a BC government news release:

The Province has amended the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation to ensure British Columbia wines continue to be of the highest quality for consumers in British Columbia and abroad. This amendment more closely aligns the B.C. VQA standard with the BCWI 2005 VQA standard and corrects technical errors in the original regulation.

I'm told that this is a controversial decision, because it imposes regulations across the board on BC's wineries, both small and not so small. We're heading up to the Okanagan on Saturday for our "Northern Adventure" (more info on this coming soon). We'll poll some of the wineries when they're up there for their thoughts on this new legislation.

Read the release from the Agriculture & Lands Ministry website (pdf).

Author

  • Mike Klassen is a Vancouver city councillor, communications professional, and long-time advocate for British Columbia’s wine industry. He co‑founded BC Wine Lover in 2007 with his wife Stacey, sharing stories from their travels through the province’s wine regions and spotlighting the people and places that make B.C. wine distinctive.

    In 2015, Mike led the BC Wine Appellation Task Group, guiding a province‑wide consultation that produced recommendations—later endorsed by industry plebiscite—that strengthened B.C.’s appellation standards and helped establish today’s sub‑GIs.

    His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Huffington Post, and Daily Hive, blending history, policy insight, and personal experience. Alongside his work on Vancouver City Council, Mike continues to explore vineyards across the province, champion local producers, and celebrate the evolving culture of B.C. wine.