Winegrowers BC are cautiously optimistic of a harvest of up to 70 per cent/Stock photo Winegrowers BC

By Vernon Matters Staff

bounce back year

Better outlook for B.C. winegrowers after previous devastating winters

Apr 14, 2025 | 2:34 PM

Winegrowers in British Columbia are cautiously optimistic about this year after two devastating previous winters wrecked crops across the Okanagan.

Although it’s still a little early to say for sure, chair of the Winegrowers BC, Paul Sawler, said the mild winter we’ve just had suggests that 50-75 per cent yields could come from vineyards that didn’ t have vines die from the extreme cold events of 2023 and 2024.

He said ‘bud burst’ in May will offer a better yardstick.

“‘Optimism’ I think is a word we haven’t had for a couple of years,” Sawler said, noting the estimated harvest for this year is only for those growers who lost their crops but not their entire vines in the extreme winter events of December 2022 and January 2024. Red and white grapes were affected. He said those who had to re-plant vines in 2024 will likely only get a half crop in 2026, and won’t see full harvest until 2027.

Sawler said winegrowers suffered the winter shocks of 2023 and 2024 after the ‘heat dome’ event of the summer of 2021 so they’re due some better news while always remaining wary of how damaging freak weather can be.

Together 4 Culture Campaign

Fundraiser launched to support Cultural Centre project

2h ago

"High-Risk Operation"

Chemicals deployed as police search Chase residence

3h ago

Rail Trail

Rail Trail maintenance underway

4h ago

“You still face the possibility of what smoke taint can do if there’s wildfires, and if there’s a late, late frost; I think that happened in Nova Scotia in 2019 when they had a June frost that killed all the buds,” he said. “We’re not out of the woods, but we’ve made it past the deep freeze.”

In addition to the milder winter there’s also good news on the potential tourism and inter-provincial trade front, according to Sawler. He suggested the tariff war with the United States could boost tourism to the Okanagan from across Canada which will help wineries in general. Also, the recent direct to consumer (DTC) sales agreement with Alberta has, by most accounts, been largely successful, although he said there are some new taxation snags to work out with Alberta. He said ongoing moves to remove trade barriers across Canada in light of the tariffs from the south are looking positive.

“There’s been great signals from the rest of the country: Nova Scotia has opened DTC, New Brunswick has, Ontario has said it’s going to be joining …so, the trade dispute has led us to treating our own industry a lot better,” he said. “I think we’re the only country in the world that can’t ship their wines elsewhere in their own country without barriers and tariffs.”

Sawler added he’s hopeful the province will extend an arrangement allowing B.C. growers to input grapes from the US to help produce wines. He said this stop-gap measure, following the extensive winter damage to crops since 2023 has helped save producers. As an added positive element, there are no reciprocal tariffs by Canada on grapes or grape juice imported from the US.