Hey, wine lovers! Ah, spring is in the air and we are so excited to introduce you to our vineyard series of blog posts. In this series, we aim to share some cool, behind the scenes footage of what brings your favourite bottle of vino to life. Keep an eye out for upcoming editions as we work our way through the seasons!
The Good News
Spring is here and the vineyards are getting some much needed TLC after the last growing season and a good long rest over the winter months.
Much to the relief of wineries and grape growers in the valley, the winter was relatively mild. In our previous winter, we experienced an unprecedented cold event that left few vineyards with grapes. Rest assured though, there is still PLENTY of wine on the shelves and in the cellars. The good news is that the grapevines are recovering and others have even reimagined their production and planted new varietals!
So, what’s happened so far this year?
When we think about a vineyard, lush leaves and abundant grape clusters spring to mind… but, before we get to the story book image, there is much work to be done!
Vineyards are currently being pruned, prepped for bud-break and the beginning stages of the welcoming the grapes of the 2025 vintage.Â
In climates such as ours, vineyards will often be pruned over the tail end of winter months and early spring.
Many vineyards will start the process in January and in the tractor, using pre-pruning attachments to trim the excess vines. This makes the job of hand-pruning manageable.Â
The pruning process is labour intensive and a labour of love!
Video: Harfman Farms Estate Vineyard, Osoyoos, BC
Those look like a lot of vines...
If you think that it looks like a lot of work, you would be correct! We’ve done some math: The vineyard pictured has about 1361 vines planted per acre or 32 square feet per plant, and on this little estate of 14.5 acres, there is a whopping 19,500 plants! If you can imagine the work that goes into tending to each plant individually, you can start to realize what it takes to produce your favourite bottle of vino.Â
Pictured: Harfman Estate Vineyard, Osoyoos BC
Styles & Trials
Tradition
Traditionally, vineyards in our area are cane pruned or spur pruned. Both styles have pros and cons for grape development and each vineyard’s natural demands.
Cane pruning is the process of pruning away all but 2 of the canes (vines) from the previous years growth. The 2 remaining canes are tied down and all the leaves and grapes grow from here.
Spur pruning allows the trunk to move into 2 arms (cordons), and all new growth is kept on short canes. New growth, as with cane pruning, happens along the canes from the previous years growth.Â
Bush vines or goblet vines and the method of pruning, dates back to the Ancient Egyptians and is used in New World regions like Australia, South Africa Chile, California, and recently, Canada.
Forward Thinking
To keep the vines snug and cozy during future cold events, Corcelettes Estate Winery is replanting with a a new (but old) style called bush vines. This method is exactly as it sounds, where the vines are grown up into a bush where they can be covered in a protective layer of straw and mulch, protecting the buds laying dormant.
Vineyard Tours
Get your feet into a vineyard or a behind the scenes cellar experience! Fun and engaging for both the novice and experienced connoisseur, they are easy to add-on to your Private Tour or automatically a part of all of our Elevated Experience Tours to Oliver & Osoyoos, Okanagan Falls or Naramata & Penticton.Â
Raise Your Glass
Now, let’s raise our glass and give a little thanks to the ingenuity of farmers growing world class grapes in Canada and winemakers for producing these gorgeous bottles of liquid treasures! This wine lover, is sure appreciative of the hard work and dedication that make my favourite bottles come to life!
Feature Image: River Stone Estate Winery, Oliver, BC
River Stone Estate Winery is a small family owned winery, focused on quality grapes that produce premium wine. Following natures lead, this winery continues to shine every vintage.
