The Okanagan Valley’s cooler than average spring has winery owners who grow robust red wine varietals such as syrah, merlot and cabernet sauvignon worried.
Pinot noir growers, however, say the season is right on target.
“We had bud break two days ago,” Foxtrot Vineyards owner Torsten Allander told Business in Vancouver May 13.
“That was two days earlier in the season than it was in 2008, which was the best year for us so far.”
Allander makes Chardonnay and pinot noir wines from grapes that he grows on a five-acre vineyard on the Naramata Bench.
He also buys some grapes from growers so that he has enough juice to make 1,000 cases of pinot noir and 400 cases of Chardonnay.
“It may be a late year for people who grow syrah, merlot or cabernet sauvignon or viognier,” he said, “but we have northern climate grapes.”
The La Nińa weather pattern that began in the winter has extended into the spring, bringing temperatures that are about one to two degrees below normal.
“Now, all we have to hope for is a cool summer,” Allander said. “That would be good for us.”
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: @Glenkorstrom