“Golden Mile Bench” Sub-GI Application On May 20, 2014 the Authority received an application from a group of proponents requesting that a new Sub-Geographical Indication under the name of the “Golden Mile Bench” be prescribed in the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation. Following an extensive review of the Application, the Authority’s Board has concluded that the Application meets the requirements of section 29 and it is recommending to the Minister of Agriculture that the Application, as submitted, be approved and that a new Sub-GI of “Golden Mile Bench”, with boundaries as they have been proposed in the Application, be prescribed through an amendment to section 28 of the Regulation. The Board’s full Report concerning its review of the Application is expected to be released shortly.

Steve Berney, General Manager

Previously on ODN – May 24

Hester Creek is one of a number of wineries that have launched an application for a “unique” wine designation for Golden Mile Bench wineries. (all on alluvial soil on west side of valley).

Golden Mile Bench is the first such application to the BC Wine Authority.

The proposal was made this week to become the first official sub – Designated Viticultural Area (DVA) of the Okanagan Valley. An in-depth analysis by scientists from Agriculture Canada has shown the area has a combination of landform, landscape position, mesoclimate, air drainage and soil materials that make it distinct.

Okanagan Valley DVA comprises around 80% of all British Columbia’s vineyard area, yet producing wines from many different mesoclimates and terroirs, it is a belief that there is a need to break this large, single appellation into meaningful, scientifically unique sub-DVAs that produce distinctive wines.