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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a colourful history,91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淭hey said 91裸聊视频榳e gotta do something about this agriculture.91裸聊视频� The minimum price (for apples) was a cent a pound. That91裸聊视频檚 how tough things were,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲hen we started there was something like four wineries in all of B.C.,91裸聊视频� said Soon.

The wine back then wasn91裸聊视频檛 very good, he said. It wasn91裸聊视频檛 until the NAFTA agreement in the 1980s that the wine business began to change and develop into a competitive industry.

91裸聊视频淧eople used to make fun of B.C. wines and say 91裸聊视频榳hy are you drinking that?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 pass the test, but wine quality improved over time as grape quality improved.

91裸聊视频淎s long as you have decent grapes, you91裸聊视频檙e OK. That91裸聊视频檚 why the free trade agreement was so pivotal, we used to make wine out of very poor grapes,91裸聊视频� said Soon, adding with the trade agreement, poor-quality grapes were pulled from the soil.

Wine type popularity fluctuated over time. In the 91裸聊视频�70s, white wine was popular and now it91裸聊视频檚 red, said Soon.

91裸聊视频淢aybe it91裸聊视频檚 a fashion, or maybe it91裸聊视频檚 a maturing of the palate,91裸聊视频� 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.C91裸聊视频檚 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 industry91裸聊视频檚 accomplishments.

91裸聊视频淚t brings in people from all over the world,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not just our own little secret.91裸聊视频�

For more information visit thewinefestivals.com.