“I got up this morning, ready to spray, stepped outside and felt a few raindrops,” said Robin Ridge Winery’s Tim Cottrill last Friday, August 23.
“I began cutting grass, then realized it wasn’t raining. I managed to get one section sprayed before a wind suddenly came up and the rain really started.”
Fighting soggy weather has been the exception for growers in the Similkameen this year, however.
“We had a great winter, no significant temperature spikes - it looks good. We’re on target for a good vintage this year,” Cottrill said. “That hot week we had in May advanced the crop, with perfect weather at bud break.”
The Lower Similkameen has largely escaped extreme or freakish weather this year, other than for a band of hail that covered Puddinghead Mountain on August 1.
“The mountain was white with hail, but I don’t think any growers were hit,” Cottrill said.
July and August saw a large number of days with 30 degree Celsius - plus heat, but Cottrill doesn’t believe it was extreme enough to have shut down the plants.
Robin Ridge grows Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Coronation grapes on 10 acres along Middle Bench Road. Cottrill began picking the Coronation (table grapes) this week - two weeks earlier than normal.
“We’ve experienced a strong and consistent market for the table grapes,” Cottrill said, adding that most of the grapes are sold in Vancouver.
Robin Ridge most recently received a gold medal for their Chardonnay at the All Canadian spring wine championships. They also picked up a best varietal award for their Gamay at the spring Wine Festival. Sooke Harbourhouse on the Lower Mainland features the winery’s Gamay.
“We are introducing a new wine this fall,” Cottrill noted, “ a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Savignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
In spite of last Friday’s wet weather, predictions for the remainder of the growing season don’t anticipate any major variances in the weather, good news for a harvest that looks like it could have excellent quality.
“The groundwork has been laid for a good harvest,” Cottrill concluded, “barring any massive weather changes, we could be looking at an early harvest in addition to being a great vintage.
Everyone’s excited about that.”