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World-class wineries deserve world-class structures
In the 1990s British Columbia wine makers were considered pioneers, it wasn’t until 1994, when the Mission Hill Family Estate’s Grand Reserve Chardonnay 1992 won the Avery Trophy for “Best Chardonnay Worldwide” at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, England that the world sat up and began to take notice.
Since Mission Hill’s award triumph, the B.C. wine industry has emerged as an industry powerhouse. In April of 2018, four new regions in British Columbia were recognized as distinct wine producing areas, bringing the province’s total to 12 official areas with geographical indications. B.C. wineries were awarded more than 1,000 medals in national and international competitions in 2019; making it safe to say that the wineries of B.C. continue to solidify their position as some of the best in the world.
Some of the more recent notable achievements from B.C. wineries include:
- Culmina Family Estate Winery – Gold for their 2020 Unicus Grüner Veltliner (2022 Decanter World Wine Awards)
- Cedarcreek Estate Winery – Gold for their 2019 Platinum Haynes Creek Cabernet Franc (2022 Decanter World Wine Awards)
- Fox & Archer – Gold for their 2019 Malbec (2022 Decanter World Wine Awards)
- See Ya Later Ranch – Gold for 2019 Rover – Shiraz Viognier (2022 Syrah du Monde)
- Corlan Vineyard and Farm – Gold for 2020 Chrome Island Red - Maréchal Foch, Leon Millot (2022 International Organic Wine Awards in Germany)
- Covert Farms Family Estate – 7 Medals total - 4 gold, 3 silver, various categories (2019 International Organic Wine Awards in Germany)
With 12 distinct geographic winegrowing appellations, every single bottle of B.C. wine provides its own unique and exceptional sensory experience; however, it also means that wineries across the province face unique, climate- and environmental-related challenges.
And this doesn’t just apply to weather and seasonal challenges. In 2022, Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars was unable to bottle their 2021 vintage because of smoke damage to their grapes due to the nearby Thomas Creek Wildfire. As the winery said, in a statement to CBC News, “we were not willing to compromise the reputation that we have worked tirelessly to establish over the past three decades". Even in the face of significant loss of revenue due to occasional unexpected challenges, B.C. winemakers are not willing to compromise quality over quantity. They are willing to persevere because of the amazing attributes that their geographic location provides to make their wines unmatched.
Aside from talented winemakers, great terroir, fantastic grapes, co-operative weather and a little good luck, producing amazing bottles of wine requires a proper winemaking environment, one that is custom built to suit their every need. Fortunately, British Columbia wineries don’t have to go very find an ideal pre-engineered metal facility fabricator and erector. Vancouver’s own Summit Steel Buildings is always ready to bring their years of experience to create an ideal facility for new or established wine companies.
Winery buildings in B.C. must be able to withstand extreme climate conditions, adapt and expand as quickly as their growing industry requires, and have design elements that match the unparalleled beauty of B.C. wine country’s landscape.
How do Summit Steel Buildings address the unique requirements of B.C. wineries?
- Durability – Steel is a standard fire-rated choice for both structural framing and for walls and roofs (where fire spreading to nearby buildings is most likely to begin). It is non-combustible and heat-resistant to temperatures over 530 Celsius (1,000 Fahrenheit) for up to three hours. When seconds and minutes make all the difference, assurances come from a material’s ability to resist higher temperatures before critical failure. Adding in fire barriers and thermal breaks between sections within the building adds further measures for fire preventive.
- Adaptability – When building from scratch, you have control over your design and layout, and can easily expand the facility later using pre-engineering’s open-ended system that allows added length to either end quickly and affordably.
- Design – Metal building designs not only take into consideration functionality aspects, such as insulation, ventilation, natural illumination, access to the building for maintenance and cleaning, but also create esthetically beautiful surroundings that will compliment the magnificence of the existing B.C. landscape.
- Savings to time and budget – On average, our pre-engineered steel buildings save clients 30% on overall construction costs, require less ongoing maintenance and more environmentally friendly when compared to using traditional materials and building methods.
Before you start pressing grapes, turn to steel
With Summit Steel Buildings, you get a complete building solution with only one provider. We have all the necessary architects and engineers in-house to plan and create the design of the building’s layout, its structural system and manage its entire construction, from foundation through to occupancy.
When you’re ready for a world-class building for your world-class winery, please give us a call at 877-417-8335 or email us at info@summitsteelbuildings.com so we can provide a free quote and prepare preliminary drawings.
About the author
Frank Melo has a construction civil engineering technology and business background with over 25 years of experience as a business owner and contractor. He was born and educated in London, Ontario and now divides his time between projects primarily in Ontario and British Columbia. He can be contacted at Summit Steel Buildings at (778) 951-4766 or by email at frank.melo@summitsteelbuildings.com or through LinkedIn.
