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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a colourful history,害羞草研究所� 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. 害羞草研究所淭hey said 害羞草研究所榳e gotta do something about this agriculture.害羞草研究所� The minimum price (for apples) was a cent a pound. That害羞草研究所檚 how tough things were,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淲hen we started there was something like four wineries in all of B.C.,害羞草研究所� said Soon.

The wine back then wasn害羞草研究所檛 very good, he said. It wasn害羞草研究所檛 until the NAFTA agreement in the 1980s that the wine business began to change and develop into a competitive industry.

害羞草研究所淧eople used to make fun of B.C. wines and say 害羞草研究所榳hy are you drinking that?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 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害羞草研究所檛 pass the test, but wine quality improved over time as grape quality improved.

害羞草研究所淎s long as you have decent grapes, you害羞草研究所檙e OK. That害羞草研究所檚 why the free trade agreement was so pivotal, we used to make wine out of very poor grapes,害羞草研究所� said Soon, adding with the trade agreement, poor-quality grapes were pulled from the soil.

Wine type popularity fluctuated over time. In the 害羞草研究所�70s, white wine was popular and now it害羞草研究所檚 red, said Soon.

害羞草研究所淢aybe it害羞草研究所檚 a fashion, or maybe it害羞草研究所檚 a maturing of the palate,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 accomplishments.

害羞草研究所淚t brings in people from all over the world,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not just our own little secret.害羞草研究所�

For more information visit thewinefestivals.com.