History and Variety of Wine in BC (pt 1)
Do you know the history behind the variety of wines of British Columbia? Would you like to make better choices about buying wine? If you aren't sure about the information beyond what's on the wine bottle's label then you could be spending money on the wrong blends.
British Columbia offers wine from five primary growing regions, each just half a day's car ride from Vancouver. Are you aware of which wines come from what areas and the history behind the different ones?
If you’re interested in learning more about wines of British Columbia then you’ll want to invest 20 minutes to listen to this edition of From the Vine to the Wine where your host Angel Burch interviews Matt Brzovic, a local wine expert with a decade of industry experience.
Wine is nothing new to Canada, despite the fact that it lies a bit north. Wines of BC* says some wineries can use cooler weather to their advantage. This interview talks about the early history of wines in British Columbia, along with the different varieties grown here.
The History Behind Wines of British Columbia
The episode kicks off with Matt telling the early history of wines made from vineyards in the Western region of Canada. You might be surprised at how far back the history actually goes.
Matt also explains who these early winemakers were, including the Father of the BC wine industry, and how they chose where to plant the first known vineyards in British Columbia.
If you take time to learn the history of wines in British Columbia, then it may change how you select wines, whether for dinner at home or a special occasion.
Prohibition and the BC Wine Industry
The Matt segues into the era of prohibition, and its part in the history of wines of British Columbia. During the interview he also answers these questions:
- What was the true start of the BC wine industry?
- How did fruit wines affect the industry of wine in BC?
- Why does Okanagan have such a wide variety of grapes?
Now ask yourself these two questions: Am I able to select BC wines based on their history? Is my knowledge of BC wines enough to offer advice to others? If you answered “No” to either or both of these questions, then it's time to listen to this entire episode.
BC Wines in the Late 20th Century
Next Matt takes listeners into the 1980s, talking about the important people who made a difference in British Columbia Wines, and some of the major events that also affected the industry.
A lot of people do not realize just how many winerie