Wine place
When consumers see the Okanagan, Similkameen, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Gulf Island wine region names on a label they are ensured a remarkable vintage from a B.C. producer.
To formalize that commitment to quality and terroir, the Wines of British Columbia, the brand the B.C. Wine Institute uses to promote 100 per cent quality B.C. wines, have joined the Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place & Origin.
The Wines of B.C. signed up during special events held at the massive Vinexpo convention in France recently along with other new members McLaren Vale, representing the South Australian wine region, and Texas Wine Growers.
Members of the declaration promise to use their geographical names as tools for consumers to identify wines distinctive to the region and discourage other wine producers from using names that cause confusion.
For instance, the Champagne region of France was one of the founding members of the declaration in 2005.
Many other producers around the world use the word champagne to describe their sparkling wines when only the bubbly from the specific region of France should labelled and referred to as such.
The same goes for fortified Port wine from Portugal and the Chianti red blend of predominantly Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy.
“We wanted the package to look different from other SunRype products to ensure consumers understood this is something different,” said SunRype marketing director Barb Grant.
“That means moving beyond juice and fruit snacks to offer a wider range of on-trend items.”
The brewed, sparkling and chilled teas come in four flavours – Twist of Lemon Black Tea, Mango Peach Black Tea, Honey Lemon Green Tea and Raspberry Rooibos Tea – and are on shelves and in coolers at stores across Canada.
SunRype’s flagship brand continues to be Blue Label apple juice made from Okanagan fruit, but the company has diversified into many other products.
Steve MacNaull is The Okanagan Weekend’s business reporter and columnist. But he loves to eat and drink too, thus his new column, Fill ‘er Up, on the Wine & Dine page. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.