dreamstime.com
Grapes_pouring
Despite a soggy start to the season, Mother Nature eventually came through making August and September perfect for grape growers. In the Okanagan, picking started in the south in early September. Growers in the Similkameen were harvesting by early October, while the Fraser Valley and the Creston growers picked in mid-October and those on Vancouver Island did their picking in late October.
Total acres planted in 2012 are estimated at 10,396.5 acres. Although final figures are not in yet, the estimated tonnage for 2012 is 35,372, which translates into approximately 19,454,600 litres of wine.
According to the BC Wine Institute the 10 most planted varieties in 2012 in order of total acreage are: Merlot, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc.
“The BCWI is excited for the 2012 vintage, which looks to be an excellent year for B.C. VQA wine,” says Kate Crothers, Communications Coordinator for the BC Wine Institute. “Despite 2012’s wet spring vintners across the province are excited about the prospect for both quality and quantity this vintage. Some of the standout varietals look to be Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Syrah and Pinot Noir.”
Bob Heiss, Operations Manager at Grey Monk, is also thrilled with the grape crop of 2012. “We get our grapes from all over the Okanagan and we found this year every area had a good season. Harvest wise we had some of the best fruit we’ve seen in years.”
He is particularly excited about Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon this year. “The winemakers were coming in and raving about the fruit while it was still in the bin.” He also noted this year was good for Auxerrois and the Pinot Gris. “All in all,” he says, “there were no disappointing grapes for us this year. Pinot Noir is usually a struggle and even it did quite well.”
Randy Picton, the winemaker at Nk’mip is exceptionally happy with this year’s Merlot, Chardonnay, Cab Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. “They have good flavours and ripe tannin profiles.” Picton notes that for some, the Syrah was a little disappointing. “It seemed as if the sugar and flavour development stalled out,” he says.
Mike Watson of Constellations Brands (formerly Vincor) noted this year showed a higher demand for Riesling and Gewurztraminer. “The quality of grapes is going to be quite high this year for both white and red. The Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir had a very good flavour profile early on.”
Overall, 2012 looks to have been a very good grape year indeed.■