The prolonged cold snap this past winter has affected vineyards across B.C. Many wineries are experiencing massive grape production losses.

A tour of the Privato vineyard in Westsyde shows some of the cold weather effects on grapevines. Projections from the B.C Wine Growers Association is forecasting crop losses of between 39 to 56 per cent. This will largely impact the South Okanagan but the Thompson Valley wineries will have a much lower margin.

“We definitely will see some losses this year but we’re expecting hopefully around 10 per cent only of losses,” Privato Production Manager Adam Woodward said.

Woodward says that’s higher than a normal year where the loss would be between 2 and 5 per cent. 

“Probably in three weeks we will know for sure. Once the buds come out — if they do come out — and they start growing, we are in good shape,” said Woodward. “But if they don’t, then we’re looking at replanting or just losing a year of harvest.”

Privato may not have to adjust too severely, but other wineries like Celista Estates in the North Shuswap are focusing on growing hardier varieties.

“The red variety that we have is much more hardy than the white variety,” said Celista Estates Owner Jake Ootes. “As a matter of fact we were not affected at all with frost damage from the red variety.”

While the 2023 vintage may be in limited supply, wineries will have different approaches to selling their products. 

Woodward summed up the situation by saying, “Certain wineries will adapt and stockpile the previous 2022 vintage and kind of meter that out, or adjust pricing accordingly. Overall there is just going to be less wine.”

Source - https://cfjctoday.com