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OCTOBER NEWS B.C. Wines Stall in Home Market Sales revenues are up in British Columbia, while market share dips British Columbia Wine Sales Period Wine Sales BC VQA Sales Market Total ($000) Total ($000) Share 2008 $829,354 $145,55117.6 $819,507 $153,75018.8 2010 $863,710 $176,39220.4 2011 $901,640 $176,70519.6 2012 $938,711 $177,61518.9 * 12 months ended this month bran ch June 2013*$951,201 $181,322 19.1 istrib u tion 2009 BC Liquor D V ancouver, British Columbia—The economic impact of the British Columbia wine industry is significant—more than $2 billion, according to a study released earlier this year—but local producers are facing equally significant challenges holding their own against a tide of foreign competitors. While more than 90 labels showed up at this week's fall release event in Vancouver, hosted by the British Columbia Wine Institute, the latest numbers from the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) indicate that wines entering the market face stiff competition. Wines bearing the B.C. VQA designation—granted to wines made entirely from B.C.-grown grapes that meet established quality standards—saw their share of dollars spent on wine in B.C. peak at 20.4% in 2010 (BCLDB figures do not include cellar door sales). By the end of 2012, market share had fallen to 18.9%— and despite rising in June, preliminary numbers for the 12 months ended Aug. 31 suggest their share of the market had dipped to 18.6%. The shift comes despite a rise in sales of B.C. VQA wines, which totaled $178 million in 2012, up from $146 million in 2008. "While we continue to grow our piece of the pie, the pie is getting bigger faster than our piece," Miles Prodan, executive director of the B.C. Wine Institute, told Wines & Vines. "We're selling more juice, but we're not making as much money (per bottle)." Competitors include California, which was featured at this year's Vancouver International Wine Festival and poses a formidable challenge to B.C. producers. Canada's strong dollar in 2011 and 2012—it's traded at near par with the U.S. dollar—has helped winesandvines.com make it an attractive Learn more: Search keywords export market. Do"B.C. stall." mestic buyers have used their buying power to snap up foreign wines at prices much cheaper than at any point in recent years. Consumers keen to buy local have supported an overall rise in the average price of a bottle of B.C. VQA wine, with the average price through the BCLDB now approximately $15.65, up from $15.42 in 2010. —Peter Mitham The original, BOTTLE-MATIC-II 3 YEAR WARRANTY INCLUDED Front and Back! MADE IN USA! 21 day trial $1800 for Wines & Vines Readers! Front & Back! Label any cylindrical container fast and accurately from ½" to 8" diameter, @ Speeds of 1200 Pcs. per hour. NOT A CHEAP, IMPORTED KNOCK-OFF! ISPENSA-MATIC DLabel Dispensers STOP Wasting Time Labeling by Hand! Price subject to change without notice. 28220 Playmor Beach Rd, Rocky Mount, MO 65072 Call Toll Free: 1 (800) 325-7303 or (573) 392-7684 FAX:(573) 392-1757; E-mail: info@dispensamatic.com Web: http://www.bottle-labeler.com 2/01/10 Win es & Vin e s O C TO B ER 20 13 17