Report on WIGA Workshop Nov. 12th, 2005; John Grayson
WIGA Workshop Nov. 12th Courtenay FINAL REPORT Nov. 16, 2005
Attendance: 80
Paid Attendance: $800
Ticket Sale Location Profile: 78 - Courtenay; 2 - Parksville; 0 - Campbell River
Typical attendee comment:
"John
I really enjoyed the seminar on Saturday. I was totally blown away by the number of people in attendance. Are they all potential vintners?"
Allen McWilliam"
PROGRAMME & Contact Information:
12:30 PM Doors opened. Walk-in ticket sales commenced.
1:00 - 1:10 Introductions - John Grayson & Lana Popham
1:10 - 1:20 John Watson, Economic Development Officer: Branding the Valley as the next 'Provence" (full colour 6 page handout)
John Watson, Ec.D
Economic Development Officer
www.investcomoxvalley.com
Comox Valley Economic Development
102-2435 Mansfield Drive Courtenay BC
V9N 2M2
tel: 250-334-2427
fac:250-334-2414
John Watson <john@investcomoxvalley.com>
1:20 - 1:40 Jill Hatfield: Growing Opportunities in the Valley (handouts)
Jill Hatfield P.Ag.
Regional Agrologist
BC-MAL
Courtenay
"Hatfield, Jill AL:EX" <Jill.Hatfield@gov.bc.ca>
1:40 - 2:00 Vaughn Chase "Growing Grapes in the Alberni Valley"
"Vaughan Chase" <chaseandwarren@shaw.ca>
Chase and Warren Estate Winery, Port Alberni
2:00 - 2:30 Paul Troop: 'So you want to start a vineyard'
"Paul Troop" <paul@vivezza.com>
2:30 - 3:00 John Grayson & others listed below. John Grayson "How
to Apply for Farm Classification" (hand out); "A Review of Fruit Wine
Production Trends in North America" (hand out and display of 12 fruit wines
from BC); The Role of WIGA & the new Wine Industry Training program at Malaspina
College - Cowichan Campus (hand out)
"John Grayson" <jgrayson@island.net>
Doug Dickson: a short presentation on the installation of fencing, trellising,
and netting.
1-866-890-0841 Cell: (250) 216-8279
Lana Popham - Comments on Organic Production
"Lana & John Popham" <barkingdog@shaw.ca>
Ralph Walton, Denman Island: "Virus Free Vinifera Propagation on Denman
Island"
"Ralph Walton2" <farmerralph@telus.net>
Peggy Kolosoff: Growing the Arguta Kiwi for Wine production
Peggy and Doug Kolosoff, Kiwi Cove Lodge, Ladysmith
"Peggy Kolosoff, Kiwi Cove Lodge" <kiwicove@shaw.ca>
Dave Godfrey: "Recent Observations: Godfrey-Brownell Vineyard & Winery development and the Regulatory Climate."
3:15 - 3:45 Ken Winchester: 'So you want to start a winery'
Ken Winchester <ken@winchestercellars.com>
3:45 - 4:15 Questions & Answers
4:15 - 5:00 Wine Tasting with local cheese & hand baked bread
.
Speaker that could not attend:
Love to John but will be out of the country working on a different project
until November 14th so can't make it.
More than willing to help you out but unfortunately can't this time.
Keep in touch.
Cheers
brent
Brent Warner
BCMAL Industry Specialist
AgriTourism Direct Marketing
808 Douglas Street, Victoria BC.
V8W 2Z7 tel.
office:250-356-1704
cell: 250-889-0466
fax: 250-356-2949
email: Brent.Warner@gov.bc.ca
WINE PRESENTED FOR TASTING:
Saltspring Island Vineyards:
Pinot Gris
Blackberry Port
Chase and Warren Estate Winery
Pinot Noir 2003
Godfrey-Brownell Vineyard:
Sparking Blackberry
Collette + others
Middle Mountain Mead:
Wild Harvest (desert wine)
Kiwi Cove Lodge:
Two styles of Arguta Kiwi wine
Plus a fresh Arguta Kiwi fruit tasting
Timber Wine Company:
Maple Sap Wine
Bram Lucieer - Maple Wine Specialist
Ph./Fax: (250) 337-5447
http://www.timber-wine.com
Plus various other Wine Island wines (including Marley Farm wines) purchased by Lana Popham in Courtenay.
PERMITS:
No special occasion permit was applied for. No liability insurance.
FOLLOW-UP TASKS (WIGA EXECUTIVE):
A) Place on WIGA WEB SITE:
1) Links & contact numbers listed above
2) Paul Troop's links &/or PowerPoint presentation
3) Ken Winchester's links &/or PowerPoint presentation
4) Jill Hatfield's links &/or PowerPoint presentation
B) Thank ALL WIGA members that attended, made presentations, and helped with ticket sales, etc. etc. etc.! Thank you Thank you Thank you! You were ALL JUST GREAT!
C) Pay wineries for wine used for tasting. Each winery will send WIGA an invoice.
Middle Mountain Mead has already been paid ($44). And thank each winery very
much!
After paying for wine, cheese, bread, & photocopying, John Grayson will send WIGA $487.00 + receipts for paid expenses.
File: wigaoutreachreport.doc
__________________________________________________________________________
PRESS RELEASE, October 2005
WINE GROWERS WORKSHOP, COURTENAY, SATURDAY NOV. 12th
The Wine Islands Grower's Association will present a Wine Grower's Workshop and an Island Wines Tasting in Courtenay on Saturday afternoon November 12, 2005 between 1 & 5 PM at the Native Son's Hall (lower floor -use rear entrance next to parking lot) at 360 Cliffe in downtown Courtenay.
The Wine Islands region consists of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Every two years WIGA holds an "outreach" event. This year it will be in the Comox Valley. Experts from many Vineyards and Wineries from the Wine Islands will come to the Comox Valley to discuss the significant potential for growing grapes and fruits in the Comox Valley for wine production. In addition, local experts will also be sharing information. The workshop will conclude with a guided tasting of select wines from the Wine Islands.
In B.C. 76.2 per cent of wine grape acreage is winery owned while independent grape growers own 32.8 per cent. In 2004 there were 5,462 acres (2,185 hectares) of wine grapes - a 32% increase since 1999. The Wine Islands is one of B.C.'s newest and fastest growing wine regions with 25 wineries to date. Ken Winchester, owner of Winchester Cellars, predicts that the number of Wine Island wineries will double within three years to more than 50 wineries. Many of these new wineries will be in the Comox Valley region. Currently, every Wine Island winery sources fruit from independent growers.
Small Scale Farmers will learn:
-How much does it cost to get going
-Is there a market for my fruit/grapes
-Can I get farm status
-What sort of equipment and labour will be required
-When can I expect to see a return
-What about diseases
-What varieties grow best here
-What about organic production
-What does it cost to take the next step and start my own winery
Potential serious Commercial Growers, or Existing Farmers looking to change crops will learn:
-Starting a new vineyard in the Valley - what do I do first?
-Economics of Grape and Fruit growing and Wine-making
-Options for Varieties and Growing Methods
-Site Preparation (land prep, fencing, irrigation, trellising, plants)
-Equipment sources; Winery and Vineyard consulting
The Initial Speakers List includes:
-Lana Popham, owner of Barking Dog Vineyard - Vancouver Island's first organic vineyard. Lana is also President of the Wine Islands Growers Assn.
-Paul Troop, wine-maker and grape grower, Salt Spring Island Vineyard
-Ken Winchester, wine-maker and owner, Winchester Cellars
-Jill Hatfield, Comox Valley Regional Agrologist
Admission: $10 per person. Price includes the wine tasting.
It is advisable to purchase your tickets in advance. Tickets are available at Beyond the Kitchen Door in Courtenay; Arrowsmith Wine Shoppe in Qualicum Beach; and Gourmet Essentials in Campbell River. Remaining tickets will be available at the door at 12:30PM on Saturday Nov. 12th.
Questions? Call John Grayson at (250) 335-3019 or visit the Wine Islands Growers Association's web site: www.wiga.ca
***
Oct. 25, 2005