By Aaron Schulze

B.C. wineries prepare for Wine Month, tourism season

Apr 7, 2021 | 6:25 PM

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — It’s the second straight year that wineries in Kamloops and all of B.C. will operate amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

April is Wine Month in B.C., and one Kamloops winery is using the extra spotlight to help them stay afloat.

Harper’s Trail is only open on weekends before going fulltime on May 1. But for Wine Month, they’re offering free shipping across B.C. for six or more bottles, contactless delivery within Kamloops for the same amount, and doing everything else they can under B.C.’s health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We have slated a whole bunch of things we’d like to see happen,” Harper’s Trail Wine Shop Manager Carrie Neal said regarding the peak of wine season in the summer. “We have live music, barbecues, and special tours booked. But we’ll have to wait and see what happens with gatherings and group sizes and try to keep our capacity where it can be as well without interfering with physical distancing. Keeping a whole bunch of stuff in our back pocket hoping restrictions ease so we can bring it to life.”’

To maximize business while operating safely in a pandemic, Harper’s Trail put up walls in their tents and replaced their picnic tables with bistro tables. They also have a walk-up bar and picnic area in place.

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Although to survive another year where out-of-province tourism may not be as fruitful as previous summers, Neal said they’ll need Kamloops and area to support local as well as they did in 2020.

“It was a huge worry of ours last year when COVID-19 hit and we opened fulltime on Father’s Day weekend,” Neal said. “What we actually saw was one of our best years on record for sales because B.C. came to the table. Lots of locals came out, ordered online and supported us. We go lots of ‘staycationers.’ People who would have normally travelled to Alberta, Ontario, or California with their family, but they stayed home and toured their local area and made wineries a big part of that. That’s what we’re counting on. Those people that are still wanting local, B.C. wine.

“I’m a big proponent of support local. Our wineries, breweries, and distilleries in Kamloops, if there was ever a time to support them, it’s now. Show them and our restaurants some love so they can get through this. When the pandemic is over, we’re going to need these people here.”