Unlocking the secrets of Okanagan terroir

Poor little EhrenfelserWhy is Okanagan wine so good? Academics at the UBC Wine Research Centre are on a quest to discover the answer.

"WineGen" is a $5M joint research project being conducted by the centre, in partnership with the New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology Wine Program at the University of Auckland.
Hennie van Vuuren, founding director of UBC's Wine Research Centre, wants the research to help "maximize the potential" of grapes grown in a BC environment. He likens his situation to a dream job, where he gets to match his twin passions for wine and scientific research.

My own post-secondary relationship with alcoholic beverages was considerably less legitimate than what they're doing at UBC today. Oh, I can only imagine the heights I would have reached if Sipping 101 had been on my course curriculum.

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.