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The BC Wine Authority (BCWA), located in Penticton, has responded to a call for a new “Golden Mile Bench” sub-geographical indicator (SUB-GI) in the south Okanagan.
The Board acknowledges receiving the proposal, which was submitted on May 20th, and will meet in early June to organize the review process. The proposal was submitted on behalf of certain members from the BCWA, which includes wineries such as Tinhorn Creek, Gehringer Winery, Road 13 and Rustico Winery.
Photo Credit: Stock Photo
Board Chair Jeff Thomas is hoping to complete the review process by the end of July but also wants the proposal to be made public and has posted it to the BCWA website. The proposed new sub region area has a unique combination of elements of terrior that according to the group justifies the separate region status.
The new Sub-GI, if approved, will be added to the existing five regions in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys and would be located between Keremeos, Oliver and Osoyoos.
Photo Credit: BCWA
The next step in the process is for a detailed review of the proposal and if all goes according to plan, it would become the first area known by an uncommon name such as Penticton, Kelowna and Oliver.
If approved wines from this specific area would still be governed by VQA regulations which includes that at least 95 per cent of the grapes used will have been grown within the Sub-GI area and 100 per cent of grapes grown in BC.
Public comment and input is welcomed on the change and those wishing to contribute have until the end of July to submit comment.
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