British Columbia Wine Grape Council

BCWGC July 17, 2025 R&D Committee Meeting
2025-07-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver) | Zoom
July 17, 2025 – 12:00 – 1:00 – Dr. Wesley Zandberg, UBC Okanagan – Smoke exposure update: Improved tests and novel off-vine models suggests alternative mechanisms for smoke-exposed in wine and suggest new targets for mitigation
New research from the Zandberg lab is challenging the currently accepted model of how grape exposure to forest fire smoke may (potentially) lead to smoke-exposed wines.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ATTENDING THIS VIRUTAL EVENT: info@bcwgc.org

Vintality Demo Day
2025-07-08 12:30 - 14:30 | Wesbert Winery, 1465 Naramata Road, Penticton, BC, V2A 8X2, Canada
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM PDT
Location: Wesbert Winery – 1465 Naramata Road Penticton, BC V2A 8X2
Cost: FREE
Join us for a vineyard-focused Demo Day featuring cutting-edge tech and tools:

Lumo will showcase their wireless irrigation valves with automated scheduling
SCDC brings European innovation in vineyard trellising
Gripple showing new items in their catalogue
Peak Hydromet will demonstrate their soil and weather sensing solutions.

Enjoy hands-on demos, expert insights, and great food and drink while connecting with fellow growers and industry pros.
This is a chance to see how advanced systems can work together to improve efficiency, sustainability, and crop quality. Whether you’re upgrading your irrigation, exploring new trellising options, or diving into data-driven decisions with sensors, this event offers practical takeaways and direct access to the people behind the products.
Register here

Live Irrigation Demo with Verdi
2025-07-08 08:00 - 11:00 | 4403 48th Ave, Osoyoos, BC, V0H 1V6, 4403 48th Avenue, Osoyoos, BC, V0H 1V6, Canada
Live Demo in Osoyoos
Take control of your irrigation like never before. Verdi unlocks real-time valve control, pump automation, and flow and pressure monitoring across your fields — all without digging, rewiring, or costly infrastructure changes.
Where: 4403 48th Ave, Osoyoos, BC, V0H 1V6
When: Tuesday July 8, 8:00-11:00AM
Why attend?
We’re keeping it simple, useful and local. This isn’t a sales pitch – it’s a practical, in-field workshop for growers ready to explore what’s next in irrigation.

What you’ll see in the live demo

How to schedule irrigation in seconds
What to expect from Verdi’s Dashboard
How we verify irrigation actually happened
What happens when irrigation fails?
How easy is setup? We’ll show you.

You’ll also get:

Free catered breakfast + coffee
Expert knowledge from Verdi’s local team
A look at the latest automation tools built specifically for specialty crops
A chance to ask questions and see if automation makes sense for your farm

Register Here

Webinar: Best Practices for U.S. Exports – Leveraging CUSMA & Working with a U.S. Customs Broker
2025-06-24 11:00 - 12:00 | WebEx
Are you a Canadian exporter looking to better understand the U.S. customs process and navigate the current tariff situation?
Join the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) on June 24, 2025, for a dynamic webinar: Best Practices for U.S. Exports – Leveraging CUSMA & Working with a U.S. Customs Broker. This session is designed to help you navigate U.S. customs requirements, work effectively with customs brokers, and determine CUSMA compliance. This session offers practical guidance to help protect your bottom line, whether you’re new to exporting or want to fine‑tune your approach.
Webinar details
Date: June 24, 2025
Time: 11:00 – 12:00 PM
Location: Online via WebEx
What to Expect?
Gain firsthand insights from Trade Commissioners based in Canada and the U.S., showcasing how the TCS network helps overcome export barriers — alongside expert perspectives from:

Jim Trubits, Vice President, Mohawk Global
Damon Piatek, President, Piatek Customs
Brian Barber, President, Northern Border Customs Brokers Association & Vice President U.S. Brokerage and Government Affairs, Willson International

The panelists will share real‑life examples and practical tips from their work with Canadian exporters across sectors.
What you’ll learn:

How to determine if your goods qualify under CUSMA
How to work with a U.S. customs broker and what to expect
Common documentation and classification issues — and how to get them right
What to do if something goes wrong at the border
How to prepare for audits by U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Key trends to watch

The webinar will be available in English only.
Register now to boost your confidence in navigating the U.S. customs landscape — and ensure you’re making the most of the CUSMA benefits.
For more information, please contact Linda Soltis.
Do business with the world.
The Trade Commissioner Service helps Canadian businesses of all sizes succeed in international markets with export advisory services, funding and accelerator programs. With a presence in more than 160 cities worldwide, we can help you do business with the world.
Subscribe to receive future email notifications through MyTCS.
Follow us on social media: LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Facebook and YouTube.

Upcoming Webinar: Heading North – Viticulture's Search for Cooler Climatees
2025-06-24 09:00 - 10:30 | Online
Join us for a conversation on the future of viticulture in a changing climate. This webinar will spotlight Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo (VCR) and explore ongoing research projects, disease-resistant grape varieties, and rootstocks tailored for cooler growing regions.
Date: Tue, Jun 24, 2025 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM PDTAudience: Wine industry professionals across the US and CanadaLanguage: EnglishRegister here: Heading North Webinar Registration
We would greatly appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity with colleagues, researchers, and industry contacts who may be interested in attending.

Optimization of grape production in Eastern Canada
2025-05-22 10:00 - 23:00 | Zoom
This webinar is part of a mini-series dedicated to highlighting final results from some of the research projects completed under the CAP Grape & Wine Cluster (2018-2023). We will focus on Activity 9: “Optimization of Grape Production in Eastern Canada.” The presentation will be provided by Dr. Karine Pedneault from L’Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO).
Climate is the most important element when growing grapes in cool to cold areas such as those found in Eastern Canada. Although several practices are in place to increase crop quality and productivity, many unknowns remain regarding this industry. Understanding how climate affects berry quality is an essential step to better understand cold-climate terroir and how to optimize the relationship between growing conditions and grape varieties to then optimize wine quality.
Attendees can submit questions when registering, as well as during the webinar. We hope you will join us!
Date: Thursday, May 22nd, 2025
Time: 1:00pm to 2:00pm Eastern time
Location: Zoom webinar
The webinar is free to attend but registration is required!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

BCWGC May 15, 2025 R&D Committee Meeting
2025-05-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
May 15, 2025 – 12:00 – 1:00 – Dr. Asim Renyard, Introduction and update on the grape entomology program at AAFC Summerland
Dr. Asim Renyard is the new Research Scientist – Entomologist for grapes and tree fruits at the AAFC Summerland Research and Development Centre. Dr. Renyard’s work focusses on insect behaviour, ecology, and pest management. Prior to joining AAFC, his research spanned diverse systems including forests and urban settings where he studied the behaviour and pest management of ants. At AAFC his lab’s research on grape entomology will focus on understanding grape pest phenology and their role in vectoring grapevine diseases. Additionally, his lab will explore how naturally occurring vegetation or experimentally manipulated cover crops affect the abundance of pests and beneficial insects.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DkIlrUEwTians47niNrX-g

Shuswap Kontiki Kiln Biochar Demo
2025-05-15 10:00 - 14:00 | Sunnybrae Vineyard, 3849 Sunnybrae Canoe Point Road, Tappen, British Columbia, Canada
Witness a live biochar burn in process using vineyard prunings in a traditional kiln. Stop by anytime between 10:00 – 2:00
Learn about the benefits of biochar and why local vineyards, orchards, farms and forestry sectors are starting to implement this ancient practice already successful in other countries.
Hosted by RegenerativeBiochar.ca | email: regenerative.biochar@proton.me

Kontiki Kiln Biochar Burn Demonstration
2025-05-01 09:00 - 14:00 | Hidden Valley Vineyard, 1252 Naramata Road, Naramata, BC, Canada
Learn the benefits of biochar and why local vineyards, orchards and farms are starting to implement this ancient agricultural practice that’s already successful in other countries.

Increase water holding capacity
Increase microbial life in soils
Build resilience to disease and climate
Build healthy soils = healthy body
Increase crop yields.

Email: rengenerativegeo@proton.me
Stop by anytime during the day!

Grape & Wine Research Users Meeting - AAFC Research Results from the CAP Cluster
2025-04-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Summerland Research & Development Centre, 4200 Highway #97, Summerland, British Columbia, V0H 1Z0, Canada
Hosted in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN-RCCV), and the British Columbia Wine Grape Council (BCWGC), this national meeting will showcase the final results of AAFC’s research conducted under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Grape and Wine Science Cluster (2018-2023). Topics include Cold Hardiness & Climate Change, Quality Improvement, Management of Virus Diseases, and Crop Protection & Monitoring. Researchers will present key findings, impacts, and innovations shaping the future of viticulture and oenology. Each topic will also include a panel discussion of featured speakers, with opportunities for audience engaged Q&A.
Date: Thursday, April 17th, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM PST / 11:30 AM – 7:30 PM EST / 12:30 PM – 8:30 PM AST
Cost: FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!!!
Location: In-person or online.
For In-Person Attendance REGISTER HERE (Maximum of 80 spots)

Summerland Research & Development Centre (4200 Highway #97, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0), registration is required.
Due to space limitations, spots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Non-Canadian citizens or permanent residents must register by April 4th (this is due to additional security protocols)
Canadian citizens and permanent residents must register by April 14th

Online Attendance REGISTER HERE
Registration is required for virtual access. A Microsoft Teams link will be sent to registered attendees 48-72 hours prior to the live event.
Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Test Event 1
2025-02-01 08:00 - 17:00
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi odio magna, congue id ex eget, aliquam convallis est. Curabitur fringilla nisl lacus, at volutpat leo tincidunt et. Duis id risus nec turpis gravida vulputate in et lectus. Suspendisse quis viverra ex. Donec placerat pulvinar turpis in faucibus. Duis in enim pellentesque, consectetur elit id, accumsan libero. Curabitur hendrerit feugiat augue vitae porta.
Vestibulum ac ipsum hendrerit, molestie nibh at, sollicitudin mauris. Vestibulum odio ante, porta vel mauris vitae, ultricies gravida odio. Ut a metus eget leo fermentum porta. Suspendisse potenti. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Nunc tincidunt ligula nisl, sit amet laoreet lacus cursus eu. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse diam magna, dapibus vitae feugiat vitae, iaculis vel mi. Sed pulvinar lorem ut leo fermentum tristique.
