News & Events
Annual progress reporting is an important component of SWBC, as it provides an inventory of program activities and participants, and a brief overview of assessment results for that year. Insights learned each year can be considered for the creation or continuous improvement of program resources. Highlights of Progress in 2016 were increasing program participation, providing outreach and education around sustainable practices, improving program format and content, building partnerships and fostering collaboration, and continuing to work on certification option.
SWBC is hosting FREE SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT WORKSHOPS again this year. SWBC has launched a 3-MINUTE SURVEY ON WINERY WASTEWATER to collect information on current management practices in BC, identify areas where wineries might need support, and prepare educational resources and a workshop. And finally, a big shout out to Sukhi Dhaliwal (Kismet Winery) and Graham O’Rourke (Tightrope Winery) for hosting workshops in August, focused on VINEYARD WATER-USE EFFICIENCY practices and technologies. Thank you also to Lisa Wambold (Sebastian Farms) and Severine Pinte (Enotecca) for their informative and interesting presentations.
These hands-on workshops will help you assess the sustainability of your vineyard or winery with SWBC’s user-friendly online tool. You can use the assessment results to identify areas of opportunity for enhancing practices, reducing costs, and improving wine and grape quality.
SWBC held Water Use Efficiency Workshops at Kismet Winery (Oliver) and Tightrope Winery (Penticton) to provide the latest information on the full cost of irrigation water, leading technologies for vineyard water management, new tools for tracking water use and associated costs, and research on getting the most out of every drop. Workshops were well attended. Related fact sheets are under development.
Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia (SWBC) is collecting information on current winery wastewater management practices in BC, to highlight areas of excellence, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop useful educational resources and support activities for the industry.