— But likely not up to bumper crop of 2006 —
(OSOYOOS TIMES — October 3, 2007) —
By Lawrence McMahenrnOsoyoos Times
While it may not reach the level of last year's bumper crop, B.C.'s 2007 grape harvest should be another great one, according to two Okanagan experts.
And, with the number of acres of vineyards in the province growing by leaps and bounds each year, these authorities say there's no sign that this rapid expansion will slow down.
Unless unusually bad weather intervenes, this fall should mark the eighth straight year of excellent grape harvests in B.C., says Richard Cleave, a leader of R and R Management, the company that looks after vineyards for a number of major wineries including Black Sage, Burrowing Owl, Sandhills, and Sumac Ridge.
The last bad year was 1999, Cleave notes.
The B.C. Wine Institute reports that the 2006 bumper crop produced a total of 20,368 tons of grapes, worth $24.9 million. That was significantly up from 14,084 tons in 2005, worth $24.3 million. About 94 per cent of B.C.'s grapes are grown in the Okanagan Valley, in vineyards stretching from Salmon Arm to Osoyoos.
Cleave says overall, the 2007 grape harvest should be about average. He says this year the vines are producing a slightly lighter yield than last year, which is normal in the year following a huge yield like that seen in 2006.
Cleave and B.C. Grapegrowers Association President Manfred Freese agree that another factor slightly diminishing this year's production was a spring frost which hurt certain grape varieties including Syrah and Gewurztraminer.
In fact, Freese “ who operates a vineyard on the east bench of Osoyoos “ says the yield will be down substantially for certain varieties in the Kelowna area, because of the spring frost.
But here (in the South Okanagan), the red varieties are having pretty much an average year, he says.
And, Freese adds, generally the quality of the grapes this year looks good. The quality is all-important, and it seems to be there.rnHe and Cleave say this year's harvest began around Sept. 12, about a week earlier than usual, thanks to excellent weather. It should end by the normal time of the end of October “ or even a week earlier, if the weather co-operates.
Both men say they expect the yearly expansion of vineyard acreage to continue to grow. Because the Okanagan and B.C. are still a very small grape growing area compared to other parts of the world, they say this growth won't cause oversupply and doesn't threaten high grape prices.
In fact, they say, there's more than enough demand for the foreseeable future.
The demand is there, Cleave says. Sales are up 20 per cent a year. Many wineries could do with double the current acreage. He says the vast majority of product grown in B.C. is sold in B.C.
Freese notes that the price of grapes is up by about five per cent over last year, despite the increase in vineyard acreage.
The Grapegrowers' president says the rapid growth in acreage might even accelerate with some non-traditional areas getting into the vineyard business. He says an interesting development in the growth of the industry this year is a project of trial vineyards in places like Kamloops and Lillooet. We are still exploring which are suitable varieties for there, he says.
Cleave says one downside of vineyards becoming so predominant in some areas, such as the South Okanagan, is that this agricultural monoculture can lead to higher incidence of plant disease.
Nevertheless, he says B.C. vineyards still have far fewer pests and diseases than any other grape-growing area in the world.
Last year, Osoyoos was the second-biggest grape-producing area in the province. Oliver produced 9,562 tons of grapes, Osoyoos produced 3,370 tons, Penticton/Naramata/Kaleden produced 2,121 tons, and Kelowna produced 1,976 tons.
The Top-10 varieties of grapes produced in B.C. in 2006 were: Merlot (3,578 tons), Chardonnay (2,734), Pinot Gris (1,757), Pinot Blanc (1,624), Pinot Noir (1,550), Cabernet Sauvignon (1,439), Gewurztraminer (1,368), Sauvignon Blanc (936), Riesling (793), and Cabernet Franc (681).
