Island vineyards OK after record-breaking heat wave
The recent, record-setting heat wave on Vancouver Island had winemakers and distillers paying careful attention to their grape crops – with a trio reporting no major negative effects.
In the Cowichan Valley, Enrico Winery says it was their staff who were most unhappy trying to avoid the heat under scorching temperatures that reached 42 degrees Celsius one day.
“Nowhere in the vineyard did we have so much leaf burn that the vines can’t recover,” says winemaker Daniel Cosman.
In fact, the winery says a cooler start to the season had put them behind and the heatwave caught them up.
“So now we’re even with an average year, if not a little bit better,” says Cosman.
While the heat hasn’t been an issue for the winery, dryness has. Enrico is experiencing “end-of-August water deficits” meaning its irrigation system is working full blast.
“We have no choice,” Cosman says.
Over on the Saanich Peninsula, Church and State Wines is growing grapes for three bubbly wines. While the plants are relatively resistant to heat, the head winemaker says cooler temperatures ranging from the 20s to 30s C are best.
“If you go too far on the heat, the acidity of the berries will go down and for us, for the sparkling, (that) is not a good thing,” says head winemaker Arnaud Thierry.
So far, Church and State, too, is among the vineyards coming out of the heat wave without any major damage.
“We don’t have so much leaves dry or berries dry, so for the moment, no big damage, no big problem,” says Thierry.
Devine Distillery has stopped producing wine, instead shifting to using its vineyard for brandy. To keep its fruit trees happy, distillers have avoided too much pruning – leaving a canopy to protect the grapes.
That said, one of the property’s grain fields for other spirits like gin and whiskey is seeing stunted growth, which could affect production later this year.
“On the grain, I think we’ll probably see some impact on that in terms of a little less yield,” says Kevin Titcomb.
How much less remains to be seen and depends on the rest of the growing season: the summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.