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Government of Canada invests in long-term growth of wine and grape industry

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti, on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, recently announced more than $2.3 million to the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN).

The CGCN will receive the funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriAssurance program to create a network of certified, virus-free grapevines that Canadian grape growers can plant in their vineyards to ensure the long-term viability of the Canadian grape and wine sectors.

As part of this project, CGCN will catalogue and assess existing samples from nurseries and grape growers across Canada. A database will then be used to trace back every vine produced through this program and planted in a grower’s vineyard back to the mother plants. This will help the CGCN keep Canada’s vineyards virus free.

“Canada’s vineyards have become an important part of our national economy. With this funding, the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network will help ensure that growers have access to high-quality, locally-sourced grapevine stock to keep their fields healthy and prosperous,” said Lametti.

The Canadian Grapevine Certification Network is a Canada-wide not for profit organization comprised of members from Canada’s four provincial grape growing associations. Its mission is to ensure high quality, certified disease-free grapevines in Canada. The CGCN is a collaboration between the Grape Growers of Ontario, the British Columbia Wine Grape Council, l’Association des vignerons du Québec, and the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia.

“This funding is instrumental to the creation of a clean plant network for grapevines in Canada. We thank the Minister for the contribution towards CGCN helping growers’ plant healthy vineyards and continue the tradition of Canada’s vibrant grape and wine industry,” said Hans Buchler, Chair, Canadian Grapevine Certification Network.