It’s B.C. wine month and wineries across the province are asking people to buy local because of COVID-19.

Miles Prodan, the President and CEO of the BC Wine Institute, says that is the message from more than 175 wineries. He says even though tasting rooms are closed, you can still visit most wineries.

“Some of them are offering curbside service,” he said. “You don’t have to get out of the car and the whole thing can be done that way and so, people are still continuing to do that.”

Prodan notes the pandemic is already hurting the industry which currently employs more than 12,000 people at 929 vineyards, noting there’s no doubt some of those people will lose their jobs the longer this pandemic lasts.

“There are grapes and vines that need to be tended,” he added. “Where we know that there are going to be delays in hiring is in the tasting rooms, so there are certainly going to be layoffs – and there have been layoffs – in the wine industry here in BC.”

“It is as much about farming as it is anything else, so it’s always been important, but especially in these times, we’ve got to deal with the crisis, buying local and supporting local is as important as ever.”

There is a dedicated website that has been set up for anyone wanting to order wine online.

– With files from Marcella Bernardo, CKWX