Timeline of the British Columbia Wine Industry
Collection of events as they took place over the years related to British Columbia's wineries and vineyards.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Year | Event |
| 1907 | First serious attempt to grow grapes by W.J. Wilcox of Salmon Arm |
| 1912 | A semi commercial planting of grapes was done in Penticton by Jim Creighton. This vineyard was located on what is now the corner of Cambie and Vancouver Avenue. |
| 1917 | Prohibition implemented in BC |
| 1918 | Fraser Valley's first winery. Leon de Montreux Chevalley, a pioneer of the dairy products industry began to cultivate loganberries in the Chilliwack Valley. |
| 1920 | First commercial vineyard planted in BC by W.J Wilcox in Salmon Arm |
| 1921 | End of Prohibition in BC |
| 1921 | BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) and BC Liquor Stores is founded |
| 1922 | Growers Wine Company is established in Victoria |
| 1923 | Growers Wines of Victoria first BC winery to be licensed |
| 1925 | Charlie Casorso started a vineyard in the Ellison area that was later purchased by J.W. Hughes who expended it to about 60 acres and named it the Great Western Vineyards |
| 1926 | Richmond Wineries established in Richmond BC producing Loganberry wines. |
| 1925 | Niagara Falls Wine Company changed name to T.G. Bright & Co. Limited. |
| 1926 | The first successful commercial vineyard established by J W Hughes in the Okanagan Mission area. The Pioneer Vineyard 15 acres of grapes |
| 1927 | Prohibition was repealed in Canada |
| 1927 | Victoria Wineries ( B.C.) Ltd opens up in Victoria. |
| 1927 | Rathbun's Winery established in Richmond BC. The second Richmond winery producing Loganberry wines. |
| 1927 | Brentwood Products Ltd established in Victoria |
| 1927 | William R. Simpson (Richmond Wineries) registers the trade mark "Myrtena" 1927-03-19 |
| 1928 | First grape variety test was planted at the Summerland Research Station by Dr R C Palmer |
| 1928 | The Pioneer Vineyard expanded by an additional 20 acres of vines |
| 1929 | Brentwood Products Ltd changes name to Victoria Wineries (BC) Ltd |
| 1930 | There a 4 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1930 | JW(Jesse) Hughes signs the first Grower/Winery contract in BC with the Victoria Wines |
| 1932 | Victoria Wineries brought into The Growers Wine Company, continues to market under the Victoria Wineries |
| 1931 | Approx. time the Rittich brothers established a vineyard in the Ellison area |
| 1932 | April 26, Domestic Winery and By-products Ltd was opened for public Inspection |
| 1933 | The Rathbuns suffered a fire in the winery |
| 1935 | BC Grape production: 1515500 lbs |
| 1936 | Domestic Wines and By Products is renamed as Calona Wines. Calona was utilized as a brand name before it became the official name in 1936. 1936 is also the first year the name Calona Wines is published as a wine manufacturer in the BC and Yukon Directory. |
| 1936 | Richmond Wineries bought out by Growers Wines of Victoria. |
| 1938 | The first size-able planting of grapes in Osoyoos, by Detterbeak. This initial planting was expanded to about 3 acres. |
| 1939 | The first grape wines produced in British Columbia by both The Growers Wine Co. Ltd. and Calona Wines Ltd. are offered for sale. |
| 1940 | There a 3 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1941 | A book " European Grape Growing" written by the Rittich's is published |
| 1945 | Canandaigua Industries Company established |
| 1950 | There a 3 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1952 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 425 acres, 182.1 hectares |
| 1952 | Vineyard acreage 425 acres, 383 of which were planted to labrusca type varieties. |
| 1955 | Total acres of grape planted in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys 425 |
| 1960 | Vineyard acreage 572 acres |
| 1960 | The BC government passes a law requiring wines vinified in the province to contain a minimum % of local fruit. |
| 1960 | There a 4 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1961 | Andrés Wines (B.C.) Limited established in Port Moody |
| 1961 | On March 10th, the Association of British Columbia Grape Growers was incorporated. |
| 1961 | BC grape harvest 1600 tons |
| 1961 | There are 5 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1964 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 1187 acres, 480.4 hectares |
| 1964 | Many vines were killed in a severely cold winter during December |
| 1965 | Imperial Tobacco purchases Growers Wines |
| 1966 | Casabello Wines opens in Penticton |
| 1966 | Growers Wine Company bought out by Castle Wines |
| 1966 | Jordan Wines establishes Villa Wines in New Westminster BC |
| 1966 | There are 7 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1967 | A crop insurance for grape growers is offered by the Insurance Branch of the BC Department of Agriculture |
| 1968 | Inkameep vineyard begins planting Riesling and Ehrenfelser grapes imported from Europe |
| 1968 | Calona Wines purchased Pacific Vineyards Ltd. 350 acres split between Oliver and Westbank |
| 1969 | Vineyard acreage 2300 acres |
| 1969 | Potter Distilleries Ltd is established |
| 1969 | The International Wine & Spirit Competition is founded. |
| 1969 | Ben Ginter purchases Mission Hill Vineyards |
| 1970 | Mission Hill Vineyards renamed Uncle Ben's Gourmet Wines |
| 1970 | The Grape Growers Marketing Board is formed. |
| 1970 | Jordan purchases Growers Wines of Victoria. |
| 1970 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 2414 acres, 976.9 hectares. |
| 1970 | On October the 2nd 1970 Ben Ginter changed the name Mission Hill Wines Ltd to Uncle Ben's Gourmet Wines Ltd |
| 1970 | There are 7 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1970 | BC grape harvest 9038 tons |
| 1971 | Calona Wines acquired by Standard Brands of New York |
| 1971 | Andres Wines of Port Moody launches Baby Duck, a brand of sparkling wine. |
| 1972 | Canandaigua Industries is renamed as Canandaigua Wine Company |
| 1972 | Total acres of grape vines planted in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys 2702 |
| 1972 | Carling O'Keefe purchases Jordan Valley Wines |
| 1973 | Hobby winemaker Walter Hainle makes the first Canadian Ice Wine. The first commercial produced Ice wine was offered for sale in 1978 by Hainle. |
| 1974 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 3066 acres, 1240.8 hectares. |
| 1974 | Wine is permitted to be sold in beer parlours |
| 1974 | There are 7 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1975 | Canadian Wine Institute is established |
| 1975 | There are 6 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1976 | Official opening of the Mission Hill Winery on Wednesday October 18, 1976 at 3.30pm |
| 1977 | Castle Wines Of Canada Limited, Ste-Michelle, amalgamates with Jordan Wines Ltd into Jordan & Ste-Michelle Cellars Ltd. / Les Caves Jordan & Ste-Michelle Ltee |
| 1977 | Start of the Becker Project, an eight year trial of European grape varieties with test plot locations in Kelowna and Oliver |
| 1977 | There are 5 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1977 | John Labatts Ltd takes over the Casabello Winery. |
| 1978 | The BC government establishes the estate winery licence. Chateau Jonn de Trepanier becomes the first winery to be licensed under this new regulation. |
| 1978 | There are 6 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1978 | Chateau Jonn de Trepanier becomes the first land based estate winery using 100% BC grapes. The first Estate Winery license issued. |
| 1979 | Grape pullout 650 acres removed |
| 1979 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 3236 acres, 1309.6 hectares. |
| 1979 | There are 7 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1980 | There are 9 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1981 | There are 10 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1982 | Vinitera went into receivership, emerged in 1984 as Okanagan Vineyards. |
| 1982 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 3022 acres, 1223 hectares. |
| 1982 | There are 10 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1983 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 3300 acres, 1335.5. |
| 1983 | Beaupre Wines established in Langley BC |
| 1983 | There are 13 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1984 | The BC Estate Winery Association (BCEWA) was founded as the Okanagan Valley Estate Wineries Association, but changed its name when a non-Valley winery joined |
| 1984 | There are 14 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1985 | There are 14 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1985 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 2967 acres, 1200.7 hectares. |
| 1986 | Claremont changed ownership and became Chateau St Claire |
| 1986 | T.G. Bright and Co Limited acquires Jordan & Ste-Michelle Cellars Ltd. |
| 1986 | There are 16 wineries in British Columbia |
| 1986 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 3150 acres, 1274.8 hectares. |
| 1987 | Potter Distilleries Ltd renamed International Potter Distilling Corporation |
| 1987 | Uniacke changed owners and was renamed Cedar Creek Estate Winery |
| 1987 | 17 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1987 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 3310 acres, 1339.5 hectares. |
| 1988 | Wine Spectator's Top 100 wine list debuts. |
| 1988 | Signing of the Canada/USA Free Trade Agreement |
| 1988 | Vintners Quality Alliance launched in Ontario |
| 1988 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 3456 acres, 1398.6 hectares. |
| 1988 | The OKWFS (Okanagan Wine Festival Society), was founded by a group of 6 wineries and tourism operators. |
| 1988 | The estate wineries produced 627,536L of wines, accounting for 2% of wine sales in BC. |
| 1988 | A government-sponsored tear-out program of hybrid grapes was initiated. Growers were paid to clear their land of Hybrids and then re-plant with Vinifera varieties. 2400 acres removed. |
| 1988 | 18 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1989 | The Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement was brought into force on January 1 of this year |
| 1989 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 1047 acres, 423.7 hectares. |
| 1989 | Standard Brands purchased by Potter Distilling Corporation of Vancouver |
| 1989 | Beaupre, a sub of Potters Distillery, purchases Calona Wines and retains the name |
| 1989 | 19 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1990 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 1293 acres, 523.3 hectares. |
| 1990 | The British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI) was created by an act of the Provincial Legislature |
| 1990 | BC VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) established |
| 1990 | The employees of Casabello purchase Casabello from Labats and rename it Cartier Wines |
| 1990 | 23 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1991 | 23 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1991 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 1448 acres, 586 hectares |
| 1992 | Cartier Wines acquires Inniskillin Wines and changed its name to Cartier Inniskillin Vintners Inc. |
| 1992 | 27 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1992 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 1545 acres, 625.2 hectares |
| 1993 | Canandaigua Wine Company renamed as Canandaigua Wine Company and Barton Incorporated |
| 1993 | Wine Acquisition, Inc. acquires T.G. Bright & Co., merges with CIV (Cartier Inniskillin Vintners) to form Vincor International, Inc. |
| 1993 | 31 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1993 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 1685 acres, 681.9 hectares |
| 1994 | Bowen Island's first vineyard is planted. |
| 1994 | Mission Hill wins "Best Chardonnay in the World" award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, England |
| 1994 | Wine grapes planted in British Columbia 1765 acres, 714.3 hectares |
| 1994 | 34 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1995 | International Potter Distilling Corporation renamed Cascadia Brands Inc |
| 1995 | VQA store licences are issued |
| 1995 | 40 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1996 | Vincor's acquisition of Okanagan Vineyards, later renamed Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards |
| 1996 | 44 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1997 | Canandaigua Brands, Inc. is formed |
| 1997 | Forming of the Vancouver Island Grape Growers Association. Now the Wine Island Growers Association WIGA |
| 1997 | 47 Licensed Producers operating in BC |
| 1998 | 53 Licensed Producers and 1 Virtual Winery operating in BC |
| 1999 | BC Vineyard wine grapes 4200 acres |
| 1999 | Dr. Hennie J.J. van Vuuren as Founding Director established the Wine Research Centre in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC |
| 1999 | Sandhill Wines established. Wines produced at Calona Vineyards |
| 1999 | Association of British Columbia Winegrowers founded |
| 1999 | 59 Licensed Producers and 2 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2000 | Canandaigua Brands, Inc. changes its name to Constellation Brands, Inc. |
| 2000 | Canadian Wine Institute renamed as the Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) |
| 2000 | Vincor starts a joint venture with Groupe Taillan to develop Osoyoos Larose, a Bordeaux style ultra-premium vineyard and winery in the Okanagan Valley. |
| 2000 | Vincor acquires Sumac Ridge Estate Winery and Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards |
| 2000 | 64 Licensed Producers and 2 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2001 | 73 Licensed Producers and 4 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2002 | The UBC Wine Library was officially opened in September. |
| 2002 | Calona Wines Limited Corporate name changes to Canrim Packaging Ltd. May 1-2002 |
| 2002 | 78 Licensed Producers and 5 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2003 | 93 Licensed Producers and 5 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2004 | BC Vineyard wine grapes 5462 acres |
| 2004 | 110 Licensed Producers and 6 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2005 | Andrés Wines purchases Cascadia Brands Inc |
| 2005 | The British Columbia Wine Authority established |
| 2005 | 125 Licensed Producers and 7 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2006 | Andrés Wines Ltd renamed as Andrew Peller Limited |
| 2006 | BCWI members voted to become a voluntary trade association |
| 2006 | BC Vineyard wine grapes 6632 acres |
| 2006 | Vincor International acquired by Constellation Brands, Inc. of Fairport, New York. Vincor Canada emerges as wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation. |
| 2006 | 135 Licensed Producers and 6 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2007 | South Okanagan Winery Association was formed. Renamed as the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association (OOWA) in 2011 |
| 2007 | 155 Licensed Producers and 5 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2008 | Jackson Triggs Okanagan named the 2008 Canadian Winery of the Year by Wine Access Magazine. |
| 2008 | BC Vineyard wine grapes 9066 acres |
| 2008 | 173 Licensed Producers and 6 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2009 | Sandhill Wines is named the 2009 Canadian Winery of the Year by Wine Access Magazine. |
| 2009 | 197 Licensed Producers and 6 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2010 | The Arrow Lakes Grape Growers Society (ALGGS) is formed |
| 2010 | 207 Licensed Producers and 6 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2011 | BC Vineyard wine grapes 9854 acres |
| 2011 | 235 Licensed Producers and 13 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2012 | The name Vincor Canada is dropped and it now operates as "Constellation Brands." |
| 2012 | Working Horse Winery destroyed by Peachland wild fire in September of this year |
| 2012 | BC Grapegrowers' Association First Annual Celebration of Harvest |
| 2012 | 244 Licensed Producers and 22 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2013 | The bottling building and majority of the stock at the Granite Creek Estate winery were destroyed by fire in January of this year |
| 2013 | Mission Hill wins top honours as "Worlds Best Pinot Noir" at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London, England |
| 2013 | JoieFarm Winery named best Canadian winery by the New York International Wine Competition |
| 2013 | Wine stores become licensees under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act |
| 2013 | 270 Licensed Producers and 23 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2014 | The BC Wine Task Group was conceived during a wine industry leaders forum hosted by UBC Okanagan |
| 2014 | British Columbia Wine Authority approves the first sub Designated Viticultural Area, the Golden Mile Bench |
| 2014 | BC Vineyard wine grapes 10260 acres, 4152.1 hectares |
| 2014 | 284 Licensed Producers and 25 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2015 | The first Canadian liquor product to be offered on an international airline (Cathay Pacific), St. Hubertus and Oak Bay Estate Winery, 2013 Pinot Blancs |
| 2015 | 317 Licensed Producers and 30 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2016 | FreeMyGrape's Founder Shirley-Ann George, Wins "Canadian Wine Champion Award" from the Canadian Vintners Association |
| 2016 | 348 Licensed Producers and 28 Virtual Wineries operating in BC |
| 2017 | British Columbia's decision to only allow local wines on grocery store shelves. U.S. launches a trade enforcement action against Canada at the World Trade Organization |
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