A Summerland, B.C. winery is warning that a provincial policy allowing imported grapes is squeezing local growers, despite being introduced to help the wine industry recover from last year’s devastating freeze.
The government’s temporary exemption — first introduced after the 2024 cold snap destroyed much of the Okanagan’s crop — lets wineries import grapes from outside Canada. The measure was meant as a short-term lifeline but was extended earlier this year, prompting frustration among small producers.
Local growers say imports displacing B.C. fruit
“Fruit from Washington has displaced fruit grown here in B.C.,” said Jesse Gill, owner of Back Door Winery in Summerland. “The cost of imported grapes is a fraction of what they’d pay locally.”
Gill says he’s currently storing about 160 tonnes of unsold grapes from six Okanagan wineries that could go to waste. “We’re still getting inquiries, we’re turning people away at this point,” he said.
In response, Gill launched a ‘Save the Grape’ campaign, producing a special vintage using leftover Okanagan fruit.
Industry group defends policy as supply-driven
However, Jeff Guignard, CEO of Wine Growers BC, says the imports are filling unavoidable supply gaps, not displacing local crops.
“If you look at what’s being brought in, we’re really only importing varieties that aren’t available in B.C.,” Guignard said. “Someone’s importing Syrah or Sauvignon Blanc because there’s none available locally.”
Guignard added that the industry has already purchased a record volume of local grapes this year and is helping find buyers for remaining stock.
Province urges wineries to prioritize local grapes
In a statement, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham reaffirmed that participating wineries must continue prioritizing B.C.-grown fruit.
“We’ve been clear that wineries are expected to prioritize local grapes over sourcing out-of-province grapes for replacement wines,” she said.
Still, producers like Gill argue that the policy’s extension tilts the market in favour of cheaper imports, threatening to erode the identity of B.C.’s wine industry — built on the character of Okanagan-grown fruit.
As he bottles his “Save the Grape” blend, Gill hopes it will serve as both a statement and a call to action: to keep B.C. wine truly local.
