In past years, particularly 2021 and 2023 I noted that those vintages were among the most challenging we’d experienced. It turns out I spoke too soon.
We entered the 2024 season with optimism after a mild fall and winter in 2023. Unfortunately, that optimism was short-lived. In mid-January, we faced a drastic and devastating cold snap. Temperatures plummeted from 0°C on January 10 to -14°C the next day, then to -23°C on January 12, ultimately bottoming out at -27°C on January 13. The damage was catastrophic, resulting in severe crop loss and vine death on a scale we’ve never seen. Early bud life testing revealed no sign of life in our buds. At that point, we braced for the worst — anticipating we’d need to replant nearly everything.
As spring arrived with cool, wet weather and a delayed, uneven bud break, we held out cautious hope. To our surprise and relief, many of our vines began producing cane growth and leaves. In Naramata, we were fortunate; most of the vines survived. Oliver, however, was a different story. There, the damage was far more extensive, and we made the difficult decision to remove entire blocks of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with plans to replant in 2025. Despite the lack of fruit, we continued our regular spray programs and nutrient applications throughout the season to promote vine health and give ourselves the best possible start for 2025. By season’s end, our vineyards looked healthy, even without a crop, offering hope for 2025 and beyond.
Due to significant crop loss in the South Okanagan, we turned to trusted growers in Washington State and California to help meet our production needs for the coming years. This decision ensured the sustainability of our business, allowed us to keep our valued team employed, and supported continued investment in the long-term health of our BC vineyards. Most importantly, it meant we could continue delivering the quality wines our cherished customers know and love.
Our Langley vineyard fared much better, as temperatures there never dipped as low. While a cool, wet spring and intermittent rain delayed ripening, we achieved an average yield and harvested on October 7, 2024 — a couple of weeks later than in recent years.