The B.C. wine industry is facing a tough year ahead as it projects a 50% reduction in wine grapes due to severe damage caused by winter vines. This has left wineries scrambling to find new sources of grapes and potentially causing a spike in prices. With wine being a major contributor to the province’s economy, this news is concerning for not only vineyards but also the community as a whole. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at the situation and how it may impact the industry going forward.
Due to a prolonged cold snap over the winter, the wine industry in British Columbia is projecting a significant decrease in wine grape production this year. The cold weather has damaged vineyards throughout the Okanagan Valley, which is the main wine producing region in the province. Initial forecasts predict a drop in wine and grape production of 39 to 56 percent this year due to temperatures below minus 20 C for two days in late December 2020. Grapevine physiologist Ben-Min Chang has stated that some less hardy varieties or areas of the valley may experience up to 100 percent damage in their buds. The damage is most significant in the South Okanagan region, where the majority of red wine varieties are grown. Balwinder Dhaliwal, co-owner of Kismet Estate Winery, said that the cold damage is more severe and widespread than he has ever seen in his thirty years of growing wine grapes in the region. The full extent of damage will not be known until another four to six weeks.
The B.C. wine industry contributes almost $3 billion to the provincial economy, creating 12,000 jobs. However, over the past seven to eight years, yields have decreased by approximately 30 percent due to climate change and extreme weather events. Growers are considering replanting their vineyards with varieties that are more tolerant of extreme temperatures, and a provincial replant program is available to help farmers replace their vines with new, cold-tolerant varieties. While the impact on the 2023 vintage is not immediately apparent, some winemakers, such as David Patterson of Tantalus Vineyards in Kelowna, are concerned that significantly less wine produced this year could affect tourism in the Okanagan region.
In conclusion, the winter vine damage has dealt a huge blow to the B.C. wine industry, with projections indicating a 50% reduction in wine grapes this year. While winemakers and vineyard owners are certainly feeling the effects of this setback, there is some hope for the future as they work to mitigate the damage and explore new strategies for protecting their crops in the future. Despite the challenges they face, it is clear that the passion and determination of those involved in the B.C. wine industry will continue to drive it forward, ensuring that it remains an important and thriving part of the Canadian agricultural landscape for years to come.
