Grapes
Last updated on September 22, 2022The grape industry in B.C. is composed of over 900 vineyards. The majority of the production area is located in the Thompson-Okanagan, followed by Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland and the Kootenay region.
Production
Several regions of B.C. provide ideal growing conditions for wine and fresh market grapes. The information provided in this section is intended to inform growers of the risks, benefits and best practices associated with grape production.
Financial requirements for establishing and producing VINIFERA grapes in the Okanagan Region:
Learn the industry best practices for growing grapes in British Columbia:
Information on the management of plant pests and diseases that damage grapevines:
BC Vineyard Resilience Report
In spring, 2022, the ministry supported the efforts of the wine grape industry to examine potential factors impacting BC wine grape production through initiation of the BC Vineyard Resilience study. The BC Vineyard Resilience study utilized production and climate data, cross-jurisdictional reviews of other wine growing regions, and interviews with representative BC wine grape producers to determine potential areas of interest presented in the report (PDF, 1.5 MB).
Production Insurance
Some Grape crops are eligible for Production Insurance coverage. Production insurance helps producers manage their risk of crop losses caused by hail, spring frost, excessive rain, flooding, drought, etc.
Regulation
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has a mandate to ensure a safe food supply for everyone in Canada. Other local, provincial and federal legislation and regulations apply.
Programs are available to support the agriculture and agrifood industry: