Crafted in BC Wines Extended through 2025 Vintage
Earlier this week Wine Growers British Columbia announced that the Government of British Columbia is extending the temporary Crafted in British Columbia (CIBC) allowance through the 2025 vintage. Despite a strong growing season in 2025, both the BC Grapegrowers’ Association and Wine Growers BC estimate the province remains more than 10,000 tonnes short of the wine grapes required to meet market demand.
The CIBC support program was originally put in place for the 2024 growing season to support Okanagan and Similkameen wineries recovering from a devastating winter freeze in 2024 (whilst already in recovery from a damaging freeze in 2022 / 2023). In January 2024 there was a polar vortex freeze event, resulting in an estimation of 95% wine grape crop loss, and 20% vine death. Buds that remained were damaged, and their recovery uncertain. In summer 2024 the BC government announced the Support Replacement Program (CIBC), which allows eligible wineries to produce wines in BC from grapes or juice sourced outside the province. The first 2024 CIBC wines, whites and rosés, were released in spring of 2025, with CIBC reds starting to appear this fall. *Goode (JG) and my (TR) early CIBC tasting notes below.
CIBC was designed to be temporary, recognizing that the majority of affected wineries couldn’t survive a year without new wines to sell. While many scrambled to source fruit and jumped at the chance to try their wine hands with new grapes and regions, others decided to pause, work through selling what stocks they had, and focus efforts on mapping and replanting their vineyards. It’s a chance for all wineries to reevaluate and plant for the future. Of note, most of the Syrah in the Valleys has succumbed to the freezes (including the oldest Syrah vines in Canada, planted in Nichol Vineyard, pictured below), while Chardonnay seems to have pulled through relatively unscathed.
CIBC was also designed to be transparent, so consumers would know what and where they were buying. After much back and forth, it was mandated that labels would clearly state the source(s) of grapes, but were not allowed to mention any official designations (such as AVAs). Many wineries took to QR codes on back labels so get their stories across, as well as quickly creating different tiers or brands (like JoieFarm’s Pacific Northwest Edition) to differentiate from their 100% BC wines.
The CIBC category is not an official term, but rather an umbrella name emphasizing wines were Crafted in BC, from BC winemakers. Some wineries prefer to use the term Replacement Wines. These wines are just another way to support local businesses, farmers, and workers. Of course, there are many BC wines still on the market from 2023 and earlier, and some Okanagan wineries were able to save some pockets of fruit to produce 100% BC wine in 2024. Other areas of the province, like Vancouver Island, were entirely unaffected by the freezes, and have been producing as normal.
On the CIBC extension, Jeff Guignard, President and CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia said “This extension is a vital bridge from last year’s crisis toward a sustainable future for BC wine. Without this support, we’ve heard directly from wineries who were days away from having to lay off staff. That’s how real the pressure is.”
Guignard also stressed that, “WGBC will always promote BC grapes first, and we remain relentlessly committed to the integrity and quality of BC VQA wines—now and in the future. Even with temporary supports extended, we’re still working to ensure industry looks local first so that every BC grape ends up on a bottle.”
With the announcement so late in the season, it remains to be seen if any wineries will have time or opportunities to capitalize on imported grapes. Most likely the big brands will have resources to jump on it, while hopefully smaller wineries / growers will have enough crop from their resilient vines to produce (at least primarily) BC wine. Early 2025 harvest reports out of the Valleys are promising with regards to quantity, and quality of fruit.
In a curious twist, most of the CIBC wines so far have been sourced from the United States of America, at a highly challenging time in our neighbouring relationship, where increasing tariffs have halted American wines from being sold at BC Liquor Stores. On one hand our BC government is encouraging American grapes / juice to come across the border, but on the other, will not allow American wines to be imported. Hopefully the American CIBC wines will be also helpful to growers in Washington, Oregon, and California, who currently have a glut of quality grapes on their hands.
In alpha order, my notes (TR) for some of the CIBC wines released so far, as well as Goode’s (JG) who toured the Okanagan in June 2025. This story will be updated as news develops, and with red wine notes.
Bartier Bros. Pristine Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2024, Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
The Pristine label is how Bartier Bros chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. This Cab Sauv rosé was sourced from 40 year old vines off sandy loams of Soaring Eagle Vineyard, in Washington State’s Wahluke Slope AVA. It was night harvested, destemmed and crushed and pressed immediately, and fermented and rested in stainless back at the Oliver winery. Pouring a shining peach hue, this silken, sleek wine streams delicate cherry blossoms, fragrant raspberry, and fine spice along the palate, lingering with perfumed spices. Quite posh, and excellent value. 89/100 TR
Bartier Bros. Pristine Riesling 2024, Rattlesnake Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
The Pristine label is how Bartier Bros chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. This Riesling was sourced from Zillah vineyard, in Washington State’s Rattlesnake Hills AVA. After destemming, crushing, and pressing on site, this was transported north to BB’s Oliver winery. Bright and crisp, this bone dry riesling rings with spring green veg, subtle white flowers, and white grapefruit through a spritely finish. One for dry Riesling freaks to crack into this summer. 88/100 TR
Bartier Bros. Pristine Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
The Pristine label is how Bartier Bros chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. From McNary Vineyard in Washington State’s Horse Heaven Hills AVA, this was harvested at night, destemmed, crushed and pressed immediately, fermented cool in stainless where it remained until bottling. Bright and zesty, with gooseberry, grapefruit, and lime sherbet that hums along the finish. A lick of lees keeps it friendly. Enjoy this summer (and at this price, you can often). 89/100 TR
Clos du Soleil Washington Series Chardonnay 2024, Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
This Clos du Soleil CIBC / replacement wine was sourced from Airport Ranch Estates, in Washington’s Yakima Valley. It was pressed just after harvest, before moving to the Similkameen winery for fermentation in older French puncheons, where it aged on lees with weekly bâtonnage for 5 months. Riper than usual for a CdS wine, this rolls along the palate with fragrant melon, white peach, creamy lees, and fine, sandy spices which linger on the finish. For those looking for a softer, friendly, yet fresh style for food pairings. 89/100 TR
Clos du Soleil Washington Series Rosé 2024, Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
The Washington Series label is how Clos du Soleil chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. For this rosé the Sangiovese fruit came off Airport Ranch Estates, in Washington’s Yakima Valley AVA. The destemmed fruit was destemmed and lightly crushed and pressed on site, followed by a cool fermentation in stainless, in the absence of O2. It remained in stainless until bottling. Pouring a spring salmon hue, this streams wild strawberry, raspberry, tangerine along a sleek palate, finishing with raft of spicing and salinity. An elegant Sangiovese rosé, which isn’t usually the case. 89/100 TR
Clos du Soleil Washington Series Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
This CIBC / replacement wine was sourced from Washington State’s Horse Heaven Hills AVA, and received 4 hours of skin contact before fermentation in a mix of stainless and French puncheons. It remained there over 5 months on lees with weekly bâtonnage. Zesty white grapefruit and gooseberry ring through the zippy palate, joined by crunchy green apple and perfumed pear blossoms, finishing with a grapefruit twist. A fresh, fun savvy to crack into this summer. 89/100 TR
Lake Breeze Pinot Gris 2024 Washington State
Fresh and bright with nice acidity, showing crisp, pure lemony fruit with some grapey richness and a touch of pear drop. Fruity and bright. 87/100 JG
LaStella Leggiero Chardonnay 2024, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
In 2024, the Leggiero sourced Chardonnay from a site near Washington State’s Red Mountain AVA. Richer and riper than the typical LaStella version, this CIBC streams juicy pear, tangerine, and perfumed honeysuckle along a stony palate, finishing with lingering citrus pith. Quite a smart and polished replacement wine. 90/100 TR
LaStella LaStellina Rosato Cabernet Franc – Merlot 2024, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
The Washington Edition label is how LaStella chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. This blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot was sourced from Washington’s famed Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills AVAs. Pouring a glowing salmon hue, this structured rosato glides along the lees-decked palate, drawing wild raspberry, ripe strawberry, and fine spices in its wake. A polished, posher, weightier rosato for equally impressive food pairings. 90/100 TR
Le Vieux Pin Ava Washington Edition Viognier – Roussanne 2024, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
For the 2024 / Replacement Wine Ava, LVP sourced fruit from Washington State’s Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Roussanne (54%) and Viognier was primarily fermented in stainless (73%), with the remainder in used French oak where it spent 5 months with weekly bâtonnage. Perfumed cold cream beds apricot blossom, ripe pear, mandarin, and jasmine, drawn out along a subtly waxy frame, finishing in fragrant spices and bitter orange pith. An elegant and sophisticated Ava. 89/100 TR
Le Vieux Pin Désir 2024, Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
This Cinsault comes from Washington’s Wahluke Slope AVA. After 4 hours on skins, this was pressed off and spent 5 months in stainless before bottling. Sleek and saline, with wild strawberry, rainier cherry, mandarin peel streaking across the slender palate, scented with river stones and trailing with lingering fine spices. Elegant and finessed, as expected from LVP. 91/100 TR
Le Vieux Pin Petit Blanc Sauvignon Blanc – Muscat – Pinot Gris 2024, Canada – USA, Canada
The 2024 CIBC / replacement Petit Blanc uses fruit from both the Southern Okanagan and Washington State, in a cross-boarder blend. Primarily chardonnay, this is joined by viognier, sauvignon blanc, and roussanne, all entirely in stainless, with no MLF or bâtonnage, and 5 months rest on lees. Crisp and bright, this rings with green apple, Asian pear, lemon balm along a sleek, dry palate, lingering with stony spices. Quite smart and easily smashable this summer, solo or with bites on the patio. 90/100 TR
Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
For their 2024 CIBC / replacement sauvignon blanc, fruit was sourced from Washington State’s Horse Heaven Hills AVA. After picking, the fruit saw partial skin contact before transportation to their Osoyoos winery for fermentation in stainless, with 34% in neutral French oak barrels. Ripe gooseberry, fragrant orchard pear, and crunchy Asian pear rule the stony palate, gliding over a fine lees base, and lingering with humming tangerine pith. Super smart example, more French than American, but perennially LVP. 90/100 TR
Meyer Chardonnay 2024 Colombia River Plateau, Washington State
They bought some Chardonnay juice from Washington. This is fresh and supple with nice pure citrus and pear fruit as well as a bit of white peach. Nicely textured and fruit driven. 89/100 (CA $21) JG
Nostalgia Sauvignon Blanc 2024 Horse Heaven Hills, Washington State
From Prosser, Washington. Stainless steel, cultured yeast. Supple, fresh and ripe with nice sweet pear and cherry, as well as a touch of grapefruit. Nicely textured with some ripeness. This offers a lot of pleasure. 89/100 JG
JoieFarm A Noble Blend Pacific Northwest Edition 2024, Canada – USA, Canada
The 2024 CIBC / Pacific Northwest Edition replacement of A Noble Blend sourced fruit from Washington State to complement Summerland and Naramata fruit, in a cross-border blend, processed at their Naramata winery. A blend of primarily Gewürztraminer, Riesling (co-fermented in stainless) with tips of native fermented and skin contact Ehrenfelser and Oraniensteiner to add layers and diversity. Amply perfumed, with rosewater, gooseberry, lush white peach, lime pulp and jasmine woven across the palate, with a bump of RS to sweeten the deal, and cool acidity to draw this through the pink peppercorn and bitter orange finish. Noble Blend fans will not be disappointed in this CIBC example. 89/100 TR
JoieFarm Pinot Gris Pacific Northwest Edition 2024, Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
The Pacific Northwest Edition label is how JoieFarm chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. This Gris came from Coventry Vale in Washington State’s Wahluke Slope, and was fermented and rested for a short time in stainless. Juicy pear, orchard apples is lit with a citrus acidity that streams this through a grapefruit laced finish. Fresh and friendly, and ready to crack into this summer. 88/100 TR
JoieFarm Rosé Pacific Northwest Edition 2024, Lodi, Central Valley, California, United States
The Pacific Northwest Edition label is how JoieFarm chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. From Lodi’s Victor Vineyard, this Pinot Noir was early picked, settled and fermented in stainless. Perfumed and tight strawberry, raspberry glides along a sleek, silken palate, with tangerine pith and peel finishing the dry finish. Very much in the joyous JoieFarm style, and really to crack into now. 89/100 TR
JoieFarm Sauvignon Blanc Pacific Northwest Edition 2024, Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
The Pacific Northwest Edition label is how JoieFarm chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. From Yakima Valley’s Balcom & Moe Vineyard, the grapes were pressed whole berry, chilled in stainless, and transported to the Okanagan Valley winery. Fermentation continued in stainless and neutral French barrels. There’s a lovely welcome lees bed to temper the grape’s inherent pointed acidity, with more roundness from the 13.9% alcohol buffering the tart white grapefruit, gooseberry, and crunchy green apple. Quite a complete and smart example, and one well suited to numerous foodstuffs (think bright Thai or Vietnamese flavours). 89/100 TR
Orofino Few and Far Between Washington Series Chenin Blanc 2024, Washington, United States
The Few and Far Between series is how Orofino chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. In this case, the chenin blanc comes from the Ancient Lakes AVA, overlooking Washington’s Columbia Gorge. From 50 year old vines rooted in silty loams over granite, this was fermented and aged in concrete and French barrels. A crisp, brisk, youthful green edged palate is led with lemon verbena and white grapefruit pith running over a bed of river stones slicked with lees. If you’re looking for a fresh and crunchy young Chenin, here you go. 88/100 TR
River Stone Chenin Blanc Good Neighbours Series 2024, Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
The Good Neighbours Series is how River Stone chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. These grapes were sourced from Washington State’s Wahluke Slope AVA alongside a large curve in the Columbia River. Juicy quince, fragrant pear flood the off-dry white, with chenin’s characteristic acid backbone streaming this sleek white through a snappy, white grapefruit finish. Super smart and easy to like. 89/100 TR
Spearhead Dual Citizen Pinot Gris 2024 Washington State
From a vineyard near Prosser in Washington State. Label design is like the page in a passport, and it has an extra sticker with ‘made before the madness on it. This is textured and fresh with nice pear fruit and some subtle spicy citrus. Has depth but also freshness with mid-palate weight. Lovely stuff. 91/100 (CA$24) JG
Spearhead Dual Citizen Carousel Vineyard Riesling 2024 Washington State
Lively, bright, pure and crystalline with lovely sweet citrus fruit. Dry but textured with nice mid-palate depth. Really nice depth. 92/100 (CA $26) JG
Spearhead Dual Citizen Sauvignon Blanc Den Hoed Vineyard 2024 Washington State
From Prosser in Washington State. Nicely textured with pure citrus fruit and a hint of melon, showing nice focus and depth. There’s some elegance to this wine, with lovely texture to the fruit. 91/100 (CA $29) JG
Spearhead Dual Citizen White Pinot Noir De Vries Vineyard 2024 Washington State
2 h skin contact. Very appealing with some nice texture, showing primary pear drop flavours and a bit of melon. Really nice texture, with a touch of cherry, too. Broad and appealing. 91/100 (CA $29) JG
Spearhead Dual Citizen Pinot Noir Rosé De Vries Vineyard 2024 Washington State
2 days skin contact. Nice depth here with sweet pear and spice notes as well as some cherry. Very appealing with lovely texture and a fine spicy finish. This is all about textured fruit. 91/100 (CA $26) JG
Tantalus Pinot Gris Stoneridge Vineyard Oregon 2024, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States
This 2024 Pinot Gris (a first for Tantalus) names the vineyard on the front label, and is Tantalus’ series of Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. This comes from Stoneridge Vineyard in Willamette’s Ribbon Ridge, a special selection of organic, own-rooted vines planted in 1985. The fruit was pressed on site, with juice transported overnight to their East Kelowna winery for a partial native ferment in older barriques, puncheons, and stainless. It remained 3 months on lees, with partial MLF, before bottling. Fragrant pear, white grapefruit pith and peel stream throughout this sleek, finely textured wine, with a river stone underlay, and lingering humming pithiness. A lick of anise adds to the allure of this vibrant, food-friendly white. 90/100 TR
Tantalus Riesling Ontario 2024, Ontario, Canada
This Ontario riesling is Tantalus’ 2024 CIBC answer to their iconic riesling bottling. Instead of looking south, like the majority of replacement wines, winemaker Dave Paterson went east, to Niagara, and two highly regarded vineyards also planted to the 21B clone of Riesling (Tantalus’ home clone). From Grimsby Hillside and Picone Vineyards, this was whole bunch pressed, settled for 2 days and shipped cross Canada in a reefer to be fermented at Tantalus’ Kelowna winery. True to house style, this was finished off-dry, with 15 g/L RS. Juicy and joyous, with ripe pear, fragrant peach, mandarin, and a slick of honeysuckle along a fine lees base, finishing with some stony spice and orange pith. Nice blend of tension and juiciness, as per the usual Tantalus releases, with the added bonus of limestone zing. 91/100 TR
Tantalus Rosé Looney Vineyard Oregon 2024, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States
This 2024 Rosé names the vineyard on the front label, and is Tantalus’ series of Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. Here Pinot Noir was sourced from Looney Vineyard in Oregon’s Ribbon Ridge AVA, a site winemaker David Paterson worked on many years ago as an itinerant intern. The fruit was whole bunch pressed and transported cool overnight to their East Kelowna winery. Free run juice was fermented in stainless, with harder press spending time in older pinot noir barriques for texture. They remained there through fermentation and a 3 months’ additional rest on lees. Pouring a glowing peach hue, this slender, saline pink charms with wild strawberry, raspberry blossoms, and subtle savoury stoniness woven throughout the palate, echoing long with lingering salinity. Super smart and moreish. 91/100 TR
Terravista Fandango Proyecto Terruño Albariño – Verdejo 2024, United States
In 2024 Terravista looked south for a cross-state blend to replace their classic Albariño, Verdejo blend, and found it in Evergreen Vineyard, Ancient Lakes AVA; Sheep Ranch Vineyard, Dunnigan Hills AVA; and Grand Island Vineyard, Clarksburg AVA. Primarily all stainless fermented (some Albariño saw concrete egg), this CIBC wine is perfumed on the creamy entry, with jasmine and honeysuckle mingling with ripe white peach and fragrant apricot. There’s a lively lime zest streaking along the core, and lingering on the snappy finish. Quite a smart, capable replacement wine. 90/100 TR
Terravista Proyecto Terruño Albariño Grand Island Vineyard 2024, California, United States
Proyecto Terruño is Terravista’s series of Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. This Albariño comes from Clarksburg, California’s Grand Island Vineyard. After a whole cluster press and settling on site, it was transported up to the Okanagan for fermentation in concrete egg and stainless. Ripe nectarine, apricot, white peach, cut grass, lime pith streak across the medium palate, with sun weight countered by pithy, tight acidity that lingers on the grapefruit finish. The extra padding here would assist with numerous food pairings, like Thai green curry, or papaya salad. 89/100 TR
Terravista Proyecto Terruño Sparkling Albariño 2024, California, United States
Proyecto Terruño is how Terravista Vineyards folks are naming their CIBC (Crafted in BC wines) following the devastating 2024 vintage. For this, Terravista went all the way to Grand Island Vineyards in Clarksburg, California. This Albariño was whole custer pressed on site, then transported to their Okanagan winery, where it was fermented in a mix of 60% stainless, 40% concrete and spent 1 month in charmat tanks before bottling with 8.6 g/L RS. Bright and fresh with orchard blossoms, peach fuzz, lemonade, with fine bubbles to a snappy grapefruit pith finish. The racy acid gobbles up the RS, leaving a brunch friendly wine for enjoying now. 88/100 TR
