A disease that is killing vineyards in Europe has been detected at an Osoyoos, B.C., vineyard, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed.

It's the first time bois noir has been detected in Canada and, while the disease doesn't pose a risk to humans, it can damage or kill grapevines.

Wine producers are worried by the discovery of a European grapevine disease in B.C.
(CBC News)

"This is a very, very, very serious thing, and my members are scared silly about it," David Bond, executive director of the Association of B.C. Winegrowers, told CBC News on Wednesday.

Bois noir is spread by insects, but Bond says that so far, the bugs known to carry the disease haven't been seen in Canada.

The CFIA has traced the infestation back to a shipment of grapevines from a nursery in France. The agency says there is no risk of the disease spreading in winter when plants are dormant.

"The members of my association are very concerned and would hope that CFIA would demand that these vines be rooted out immediately and burned — not just mulched but burned — and that the vineyard itself be quarantined for whatever [period] CFIA thinks is necessary," Bond said.

CFIA spokesman Chuck Lemmon said Thursday that all 2,000 vines in the shipment will be destroyed. In addition, new rules covering the importation of vines from France and Germany are scheduled to come into effect next year.

All imported plants from France will need to be hot-water treated to kill any potential infection of bois noir, Lemmon said.

Bond said he fears that if the disease spreads, it could have a disastrous impact on the south Okanagan wine industry.

Tony Murray, spokesperson for the B.C. Grapegrowers Association, stresses this is an isolated incident.

"Just like in human terms, you have one person who comes down with a disease doesn't mean to say we're into an epidemic or pandemic."