New Thompson Valley Wine Designation Hits Kamloops Wine Labels 

For Immediate Release 
Media Photo/Video Attached

Kamloops, BC - Harper’s Trail Winery is bottling today the first run of wines featuring the region’s new “Thompson Valley” geographic indicator (GI), a standard element of appellation systems used around the world.


In 2018 the B.C. Minister of Agriculture announced that the Thompson Valley along with three other wine regions would be officially recognized with their own new regional designation and that local wine drinkers will soon be able to buy BC wine clearly identified as coming from the Thompson Valley, Lillooet, Shuswap, and Kootenays.  These new regions will be added to the six BC geographic indications already established: Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.


“More and more people are starting to recognize the quality and diversity of B.C. wines found throughout our province,” said Minister of Agriculture, Lana Popham. “By helping B.C.’s wine regions identify and promote their own terroir… B.C. wine drinkers will be able to make more informed choices as they select, enjoy and buy B.C. wines.”

“Recognition of these new official geographical indications, and addition of sub-appellations, reflects the maturation and progress of B.C.’s premium wine industry,” said Miles Prodan, president and CEO of the British Columbia Wine Institute. 


Bottling with the new regional designation today and soon to show up on retail shelves is Harper’s Trial 2018 Pioneer Block Riesling, 2018 Silver Mane Riesling and 2018 Pinot Gris.  


“It’s a new era for BC wines,” said Vicki Collet, co-owner of Harper’s Trail Estate Winery. “Being the pioneers of the wine industry in the Kamloops area it has always been our mandate to produce wine made from grapes grown on our own Thadd Springs vineyard estate.  Wine is about place, and to be able to now state that on the label is very gratifying. Now bottling our 8th vintage, we are thrilled to finally have the Thompson Valley regional designation on our labels.”
Another Kamloops Winery, Monte Creek Ranch is scheduled to bottle their 2018 Riesling next week which will also feature the new Thompson Valley GI with Privato Winery soon to follow.   


For more information on the Kamloops Wine Trail and members wineries visit www.kamloopswinetrail.com.

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Kamloops Wine Trail Media Contact:         
Trish Morelli                     
C: 604.788.8997                
E. Trish.morelli@gmail.com