BC Winegrape Council

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BC Wine Grape CouncilClean Plant Issues
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Brief overview of BC Grape and Wine Sector

• Re-invented in 1989
• Approx. 130 Wineries
• Approx 10,000 acres in wine grapes (2009)
• Main Reds Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet
  Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah
• Main WhitesChard, Pinot Gris, Gewuerz, Pinot
  Blanc, Riesling

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Current Plant Sources

• gt 90 are grafted plants
• Large majority of these are imported from France,
  some from Germany and the rest from Ontario,
  Washington, Oregon and California.

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• Phytosanitary Issues
• Virus Survey 1994 to 96
• As a result, delisting of GLRaV I and III, ArMV
  and GFLV missed opportunity for BC.
• Crown gall

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• Phytoplasma
• - Flavescence dorée, main vector Scaphoideus
  Titanus
• - Bois Noir, main vector Hyalesthes obsoletus
• Bois noir discovered on plants imported from
  France.
• Attempts in 2005 to block imports from France
  failed.
• New plantings (2006) are put under quarantine
  like conditions for three years. Monitored for
  symptoms of Phytoplasma and presence of vectors.
• From 2007 on, all plants imported from France and
  Germany must undergo hot water treatment (35
  minutes at 50º C, 122ºF)

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• Industry response
• Different responses from BC and Ontario
• Political meddling by importing brokers
• Regulators under pressure from politicians
• BC decides to develop a clean plant strategy on
  their own
• Why bother?
• Migration and adaptation of vectors
• Effect on quality
• Impact on returns

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Challenges and opportunities

• Very little grafting done in BC to date
• Relatively small market for plants
• Lack of a certification system
• Small repository of G-1 material in Sanichton
  (Vancouver Island)
• Potential for partnerships with Washington and
  Oregon

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Thank You!bcwgc.org