Who knew that 100 years after alcohol was briefly prohibited in B.C. that the production of wines, specialty spirits and craft beer would be one of the province's most lucrative economic drivers?
According to a provincial report:
for every bottle of wine produced in this province, there is $42 of economic income generated;
the wine and grape industry produces not just tasty vintages but 10,000 jobs;
and as a whole, the wine industry generates $476 million in tourism and $222 million in taxes for an economic impact of $2 billion a year.
Thus it's no surprise that farmers' markets, including those in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody are allowed to serve craft wine, beer and spirit tastings, and that grocery stores will soon be stocking B.C. wines.
Once it was trees and fish that provided the grease for B.C.'s engine, now grapes and barley are earning that distinction.
