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The shift to earth-friendly wine-growing is quickly spreading across B.C. wine country that some think could be as much as 50 per cent organic by 2030. Led by the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys, that would make B.C. home to the largest percentage of organic vineyards by hectares planted in the world. No small feat by any standard, and one that would focus much attention on the region’s wine.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery has been touting the natural way the longest, halting the use of herbicides and pesticides on the property since 1988. It’s been a long, winding journey, but the family has just released its first Demeter-certified bio-dynamic wines and the first in B.C., which is a monumental achievement. Many talk about bio-dynamic and organics, but getting certified is a whole other ballgame, and no one can deny that the Cipes family have not only talked the talk, but they have walked the walk. They should be widely applauded for remaining fierce advocates for organic farming and the benefits it can reap for the grower, the buyer, and ultimately the community.