The flavours of the Okanagan are being toasted by wine drinkers in China as more and more B.C. winemakers enter one of the world’s most attractive marketplaces.

The wines of Aces Winery, Summerhill Pyramid Winery and Painted Rock Estate Winery are all made from grapes ripened under the Okanagan sun.

They are also the result of a new and growing class of B.C. entrepreneur, whose vintages and business sense are world-class.

Painted Rock Estate Winery recently signed an agreement with a Chinese vendor to supply up to 1,000 cases of their wine a year, a substantial order for a winery that sold their first vintage in 2007.

Securing jobs
The agreement delivers great tasting wine to China, and helps secure jobs and revenue for the winery’s vineyards along Skaha Lake.

“This contract is not only great for Painted Rock,” says Painted Rock Estate Winery proprietor John Skinner.  “It’s a clear sign our Okanagan wine region is gaining international prominence and recognition for producing wines of great quality.  So kudos to my fellow wineries who have contributed to the transformation of this industry!”

Kelowna is becoming better known in China as a wine region and tourist destination thanks to a steady increase in sales from producers like the Summerhill Pyramid Winery.

Their premium icewines are in demand, made from grapes that are picked frozen, and handled with extreme craftsmanship and care.

During the summer months about 300 Chinese tourists visit the Summerhill Pyramid winery daily, to observe the process and enjoy the results.

“Though the market for Canadian icewine in China is still very new and small, it provides an opportunity for B.C. wineries to establish ourselves as the very best in the category,” said Summerhill Pyramid Winery’s chief operations officer Ezra Cipes.  “This is what customers in China want — the best.

“As icewine is such a precious and rare thing, it really suits the cultural tradition of gift giving in China, and has presented us with a very good opportunity to enter the Chinese market.”

Building relationships
Aces Winery has made great inroads in China as well, bringing their poker-themed and marketed VQA wines to trade shows and Chinese wine-drinkers, thirsty for the taste of B.C.

“As B.C. winemakers and business people, we must embrace the enthusiasm that the Chinese have for high-quality products, and build relationships with our Asian counterparts that will last a lifetime,” said Aces Winery founder Holger Clausen.

B.C. wine exports have skyrocketed since 2008, growing from $1.4 to $5.5 million a year. Wine exports to China reached $4.4 million in 2010, with exports to the rest of Asia totalling nearly a million dollars.

The Government of British Columbia has championed B.C. wines to international audiences through trade missions, international marketing and its attractive investment climate.

• British Columbia's maturing wine market (facebook.com) is recognized internationally [INFOGRAPHIC]
• Taste a winner! 1,037 reasons to visit a B.C. winery.
  
• You'll find more information about British Columbia's competitive advantage on the  Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan (bcjobsplan.ca) website. Learn how B.C. plans to export our best to the world.
• UPDATE: As part of its BC Jobs Plan (bcjobsplan.ca) , the Province released a five-year agrifoods strategy entitled B.C. Agrifoods: A Strategy for Growth on March 16, 2012.
  
  What action can you take to inspire people to buy B.C. food?  Won’t you join the conversation and share your ideas (engage.bcjobsplan.ca) .