After a devastating year in 2024, grape growers and wineries in Summerland are expecting a strong harvest this year.
Jordan Knight, chair of the Bottleneck Drive association of wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries, and owner and winemaker at Pamplemousse Jus Natural Winery Inc. in Summerland, said the grape harvest this year appears to be in line with the 2023 harvest.
In 2024, because of a severe cold snap in January, some British Columbia vineyards were wiped out entirely while others had a small fraction of their normal harvest.
Knight said the Summerland wineries lost much of their crops, but the vines survived and are producing well.
香蕉视频直播淣ot only are there a lot of grapes, but the clusters are very big,香蕉视频直播� she said.
However, while the crop appears strong for this year, Knight said wineries are looking ahead to prepare for future weather extremes that could affect their crops.
She said her winery is looking into more cold-hardy varieties. While classic wine varieties from Europe have been grown in British Columbia, much of the province香蕉视频直播檚 wine regions are at the edge of the areas where these grapes can be grown.
Pinot Noir and Riesling grapes, along with some hybrid varieties, tend to do well in the Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 grape-growing climates.
香蕉视频直播淲e want to grow grapes that will have fruit every year,香蕉视频直播� she said.
