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WATCH: Latest acreage report: focus on quality, not quantity

PENTICTON, B.C. — It’s no secret the B.C. wine industry has grown dramatically in recent years, but what hasn’t grown as quickly is acreage of wine grapes.

According to a new wine grape acreage report, which is conducted every three years by the B.C. Grape Growers Association, there’s only been a 4% increase since 2011.

Oleg Aristarkhov, owner of Moraine Winery, says this is a reflection of how the wine industry has transformed.

“Now we pay much more attention to the quality,” explains Aristarkhov.

The B.C. Wine Institute (BCWI) agrees.

“We’re not growing as big as we have in the past, which is fine because B.C. is never going to be a huge player in the world market in terms of volume. But we’re certainly showing that we’re world players in terms of quality,” says Miles Prodan, President of BCWI.

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The province has 10,260 acres of wine grapes, and 85% of the acreage is located in the Okanagan.

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