From its humble beginnings during The Great Depression, the Okanagan wine industry got its roots in Kelowna.

Starting in 1932, Calona Wines (now called Calona Vineyards) was the first of its kind in the valley.

At the time, Kelowna was a small town, with an economy based on apples and a port service, said Sandhill/Calona head winemaker Howard Soon.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a colourful history,香蕉视频直播� he said. Soon got his start in the Okanagan in 1980, and has won numerous awards for his wines.

He also gives tours, and shared the history of Sandhill and Calona with the Captial News ahead of the 23rd annual Spring Wine Festival to be held from May 4 to 14.

Calona Vineyards started with a local grocery man, Cap Capozzi and W.A.C. Bennett, who owned a hardware store.

After striking up a friendship, the pair formulated a plan to grow grapes and create wine.

Ironically, Bennett never drank. 香蕉视频直播淭hey said 香蕉视频直播榳e gotta do something about this agriculture.香蕉视频直播� The minimum price (for apples) was a cent a pound. That香蕉视频直播檚 how tough things were,香蕉视频直播� said Soon.

The company started as Domestic Wines and By-Products Co. and would sell shares to people at a dollar a share.

Calona Wines was coined in 1936. Originally, the winery was built on the waterfront but changed to its home on Richter in 1951.

香蕉视频直播淲hen we started there was something like four wineries in all of B.C.,香蕉视频直播� said Soon.

The wine back then wasn香蕉视频直播檛 very good, he said. It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until the NAFTA agreement in the 1980s that the wine business began to change and develop into a competitive industry.

香蕉视频直播淧eople used to make fun of B.C. wines and say 香蕉视频直播榳hy are you drinking that?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� but after NAFTA, the B.C. Wine Authority was formed which set a minimum quality for wine, said Soon.

Having a minimum standard set B.C. wines apart from the other industries. Half of the wines submitted at the time didn香蕉视频直播檛 pass the test, but wine quality improved over time as grape quality improved.

香蕉视频直播淎s long as you have decent grapes, you香蕉视频直播檙e OK. That香蕉视频直播檚 why the free trade agreement was so pivotal, we used to make wine out of very poor grapes,香蕉视频直播� said Soon, adding with the trade agreement, poor-quality grapes were pulled from the soil.

Wine type popularity fluctuated over time. In the 香蕉视频直播�70s, white wine was popular and now it香蕉视频直播檚 red, said Soon.

香蕉视频直播淢aybe it香蕉视频直播檚 a fashion, or maybe it香蕉视频直播檚 a maturing of the palate,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Barrels come from France, and Pennsylvania, becoming more of a global collaboration nowadays.

Also, over time came experience and knowledge through trial and error, said Soon. B.C香蕉视频直播檚 wine industry contributes $2.8 billion a year, according to the B.C. Wine Institute and creates more than 12,000 jobs.

Soon thinks the wine festival is a way to showcase the industry香蕉视频直播檚 accomplishments.

香蕉视频直播淚t brings in people from all over the world,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not just our own little secret.香蕉视频直播�

For more information visit thewinefestivals.com.