We love it when BC’s biggest media outlets give local wineries some much-deserved attention. Recently GlobalTV BC reporter Elaine Yong took a look at the BC VQA controversy in this report. The Vintner’s Quality Assurance wine standard elevated Canadian wine out of obscurity and gave consumers confidence to buy BC and Ontario wines. Today, however, the more sophisticated wine drinkers are not looking for the letters VQA on the label. Is it still worth having BC VQA? The discussion continues.
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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.
