The Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) has released its annual BC Wine Grape 2021 Vintage Report, which details another harvest of low yields but intensely flavoured fruit resulting in wines of “remarkable character, concentrated flavours, and balanced acidity”.
This was achieved despite a challenging growing season marked by an early, hot and dry summer punctuated by the unprecedented ‘heat dome’ which settled on the Okanagan Valley from the end of June through early July which the WGBC says was achieved “through expert vineyard management”.
Temperature records were shattered in many regions with Canada’s highest ever temperature of 49.6 C being recorded in the B.C. interior. Kelowna, Kamloops, Osoyoos and Lillooet were among 60 places that broke records.
The warm conditions led to a generally early harvest with ripe flavours and impressive concentration from the small berries. While yields were down as much as 30 per cent, the WGBC says to expect “very intense, powerful wines”.
The conditions also had a silver lining of low disease pressure the association said.
The report also notes that while wildfires were a notable occurrence in the Okanagan Valley and surrounding regions, the majority of BC winegrowers observed that the higher, thinner smoke cover did not negatively impact the grapes.
Not all wineries would agree, with Blue Mountain Vineyards and Cellars saying their grapes were so impacted by smoke contamination they will not be producing the 2021 vintage. Blue Mountain’s estate is located in Okanagan Falls which is near the location of the Thomas Creek wildfire last summer.
“While attempts to mitigate the impact of the contamination were tried the results did not meet the winery’s quality standards,” Blue Mountain said.
“We made the very difficult decision not to bottle the 2021 vintage simply because we were not willing to compromise the reputation that we have worked tirelessly to establish over the past three decades.”
Other wineries in the South Okanagan appear to have either mitigated the impact or were not as directly affected by the smoke with Severine Pinte, Winemaker/Viticulturist and Managing Partner for Le Vieux Pin Winery and LaStella Winery saying “the 2021 wines are tasting delicious.”
“Whites have some tension, lots of flavours and concentration. The rosé wines are really fruity and have a nice backbone of natural acidity. The reds, while maturing slower for some of the varieties, are showing nice full ripe tannins and lots of vibrant fruits,” says Pinte.
The Similkameen Valley experienced very similar conditions to the neighbouring Okanagan Valley, including an early and compacted harvest challenged further by staffing shortages felt in multiple industries. “It is a testament to the passion and dedication of BC grape growers that no negative impact on production was reported,” the WGBC said.
In the face of weather and staffing obstacles, Charlie Baessler, Winemaker/Owner of Corcelettes Estate Winery commented that, “with quantities down we just wish we had more fruit!”.
All the BC interior regions were impacted by the summer heat dome, recording higher than average growing degree day levels.
“Overall, the wines have a bit more phenolics due to the heat and intense, ripe flavours, but they’ve kept the crisp, refreshing acidity…” says Wes Johnson, Winemaker/Owner of Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery in the Kootenays.
The coastal regions, which typically experience cooler, wetter conditions, report “one of the hottest growing seasons on record” says Bailey Williamson, Winemaker at Blue Grouse Estate Winery in the Cowichan Valley, “a few more growing degree days make a huge difference” he said.
Temperatures required for the production of BC Icewine (-8°C) occurred mid-December and wineries intending to vinify the frozen fruit collectively brought in just 35 tonnes, the lowest yield on record. Though Icewine from 2021 may then be considered a rare commodity, Late Harvest yields reached an estimated 101 tonnes.
