Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/331901
20 W i n e s & V i n e s J U LY 2 0 1 4 J U L Y N E W S graphical designation. The proposed area is west of Highway 97 south of Oliver, B.C., running from approximately Re- id's Creek south to Testalinden Creek. "The creeks are important, because the creeks were how the alluvial fans were formed," said Mark Sheridan, general manager of Hester Creek Estate Winery, located at the southern end of the proposed appellation. "We have involved soil scien- tists, viticulturists, plant physi- ologists, and the bottom line is that it's based on science. It's not based on politics or anything else, it's based on science and under- standing what the unique charac- teristics of that terroir are," Sheridan said. Golden Mile Bench is the first subappellation proposal to come before the B.C. Wine Authority, which began operations in 2008. The review process will include interviews with the wineries pro- posing the new designation as well as the scientists involved in devel- oping the proposal. A site visit also will be planned, and a ballot seek- ing a double majority of affected members will be conducted. Two wineries that lie just out- side the proposed boundaries of the Golden Mile Bench DVA ex- pressed concerns to Wines & Vines, charging that the proposed area has no characteristics that distinguish it from their own properties. Adrian Cassini, owner of Cas- sini Cellars, said he has not seen a strong scientific case for any new designation. Cassini and others also worry about the effect the new designation could have on marketing local wines. However Manfred Freese, pres- ident of the British Columbia Grapegrowers Association, be- lieves the proposed DVA could help wineries sell more wine and encourage growers to produce higher quality fruit. "If it will sell more wine, then why not?" he asked. "It will be another incentive to maintain top quality, and we're always in favor of that." BCWA chair Jeffrey Thomas told the petitioners that said he expects the BCWA board of directors to complete a review process and submit a recommen- dation to the Minister of Agri- culture by late July. Written comments about the proposal are being accepted via email at info@bcvqa.ca. —Peter Mitham If approved, the Golden Mile Bench DVA would be the first subappellation in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. Wineries included • C.C. Jentsch Cellars • CheckMate Artisanal Winery • Culmina Family Estate Winery • Fairview Cellars • Gehringer Brothers • Hester Creek • Inniskillin Okanagan • Road 13 Vineyards • Rustico Farm and Cellars Ltd. • Tinhorn Creek Vineyards J U L Y N E W S (Continued from page 19.)