Harvest season weather

While it may feel like the middle of July, mid September is the start of the Niagara grape harvest. As Lauran Sabourin tells us, it’s that critical time where the weather can make or break the entire season.

Looking over the grapes in his Beamsville vineyard, Bill George of the Grape Growers of Ontario likes what he sees so far.

“The bunch size is significant.”

All the rain earlier this summer has made the bunches fairly big. They’re getting the machinery ready. Within days you’ll see harvesters out in the vineyards going full tilt. At Henry of Pelham in St. Catharines, they’re already hand picking the Chardonnnay.

The growers have been keeping their fingers crossed hoping the weather co-operates until they get all the grapes off the vines.

It’s gorgeous out today. But the grower are worried about muggy, wet weather so close to harvest. The kind of conditions that can cause grapes to rot.

George: “I think everyone knows Pinot Noir is like the “heartbreak grape” and is very fickle in the best of growing conditions.”

They expect to bring in about 65 thousand metric tonnes of grapes this year.

George: “Going into 2014, you’ll have some, a good supply of Ontario wines. Hopefully they’re enjoying the 2012 vintage right now.”

The hot, dry summer of 2012, Niagara grape growers say, was one of their best.