Local wineries prep for a potentially fruitful growing season
Now that the spring season is underway, local vineyards are hard at work.
Preparation in the first few weeks of spring focuses on warding off potential frost — a vine killer.
The good news for local wineries is that the long-range weather forecast suggests a warm and humid summer awaits, which is perfect for the growing season. The humidity is likely too, which is not ideal but there are ways for vineyards to deal with humid air.
Tom O’Brien, the founder, president and co-owner of Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards in Harrow, Ont., says he’s happy about the probable future weather trend.
"Humidity — we can weather that and no pun intended on that,” said O’Brien.
“That [humidity] does encourage the growth of a lot of the molds and funguses that grow on plants and we spray almost weekly and even during regular seasons and about 95 per cent of that spray is to combat downy mildew and powdery mildew."
In addition, O’Brien notes a change in consumer spending habits with respect to wine — it has decreased across the board over the last season.
Moreover, global inflation has hit the wine industry hard, and that has an impact on consumers who are already reeling from the same economic pressures.
The bottom line is that operating costs for vineyards are up — labour, for example, is up by 18 per cent. This will eventually translate to higher prices for wines across the board over time.
However, local winery pricing increases are not likely to be as pronounced as imported wines in the short term.
In the meantime, vineyards like Cooper’s Hawk in southwestern Ontario are positive about making more award-winning vintages, in what could be one of the best harvests in recent memory.
More information about Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards is available online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. Both weren't expecting to meet someone special the night they crossed paths at a bar in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.