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International News
and with border closures and quarantine reg-ula- others, it may take until the end of the season to
tions, this has been more challenging than ever,” fully understand the effects industry-wide,” said
said John Bayley, viticulturist at Blasted Church Kathy Malone, winemaker, Hillside Winery.
Vineyards and Board President of BCGA. “We have
incurred greater expenses this year in maintaining As part of an effort to help the wine and hospital-
the labor support we rely on from our colleagues ity industry recover from pandemic-related losses,
from Mexico.” industry organizations are pulling out all the stops
to encourage British Columbians to play tourist in
While 41% of British Columbia wineries reported their own province.
an increase in winery direct sales, all distribu-tion
channels have seen a decrease in sales due to the In October, the BCWI launched British Columbia
pandemic, particularly hospitality at 69%, followed Wine Harvest Month to draw attention to the
by agency (43%) and liquor retail stores (41%). industry’s importance to the province. The
announcement was made in partnership with Desti-
Financially, 66% of wineries believe it will take nation British Columbia, the British Columbia Hotel
them one to four years to recover, with 35% Association, British Columbia Restaurant and Food
ex-pecting their revenue to decline between 21% Association, British Columbia Dairy Association and
and 50% over the next six months. British Columbia Seafood Alli-ance.
“I think it will take some time for the industry “2020 has been like no other. Our industries were
to see the full effects of COVID-19. Obviously for quick to respond and adapt during an un-predict-
smaller wineries who depend on restaurant and able time, but we’re not out of the woods yet,”
wine shop sales – and many of them do – they’re said Miles Prodan, President and CEO of BCWI.
going to feel the effects more immediately. But for “This campaign brings local industry together to
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