Sub-zero temperatures see the return of the 2011 Icewine Harvest
January 12, 2012 (Kelowna, BC) Nearly two months after the second-earliest start on record for the Icewine harvest, Mother Nature has once again provided us with the sub-zero temperatures required to produce the “liquid gold.”
While the first Icewine grapes of 2011 were brought in by Summerhill Pyramid Organic Winery on November 19 and 20, the cold temperatures did not last. The second round of Icewine picking began on January 10 as the overnight temperatures hovered between -9°C (15.8°F) and -12°C (10.4°F). Rollingdale Winery in West Kelowna began picking their Icewine grapes at 11 PM January 10 and completed their estate harvest at 6 AM January 11. Proprietor Steve Dale notes that the winery pressed 550 litres of Pinot Gris and 80 litres of Chardonnay from their estate vineyard and, although there will be some very tasty Icewine from Rollingdate this year, there won’t be as much as he had hoped, as despite the vineyards being netted, birds ate a significant amount of fruit.
The freezing temperatures continued, and 14 wineries between Vernon and Osoyoos took advantage to harvest over 340 tons of fruit between 11 PM on January 11 and 6 AM on January 12. In the South Okanagan, Nk’Mip Cellars harvested 5 tons of Riesling overnight. Winemaker Randy Picton noted that the fruit came in at 40 brix, which is ideal, and expects the Icewine quality to be very good this year. Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Winemaker Derek Kontkanen and his team picked 10 tons of Riesling just after 2 AM on January 12 in their Whitetail vineyard near Oliver, while the team at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards brought in 3.6 tons of Kerner around 7 AM January 12.
Further North, Kalala Organic Estate Winery in West Kelowna started their harvest overnight January 12 as well, bringing in approximately 70 tons of Zweigelt, Riesling and Merlot. With temperatures rising this morning, they still have an estimated 40 tons to harvest. Tantalus Vineyards in Kelowna brought in half an acre of Syrah at 5:30 AM January 12. Winemaker David Paterson noted that “the juice is amazingly deep, viscous and concentrated.”
There are still several wineries that have not yet completed their 2011 Icewine harvest. With freezing temperatures expected overnight January 12 and again early next week, it is hoped that all the grapes will make it off the vine this month.
For updates on the harvest, follow @winebcdotcom, #Icewine and #BCwine on Twitter.
Photos available.
For further information:
Lindsay Kelm
Communications Manager
tel. 250-762-9744 ext. 103
cell. 250-317-8688
British Columbia Wine Institute
Suite 107 – 1726 Dolphin Avenue
Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 9R9
phone. 250-762-9744
toll free. 1-800-661-2294
fax. 250-762-9788
About the BC Wine Institute (BCWI)
Since 1990, the BCWI has played a pivotal role in taking BC’s wine industry from a vision to an internationally recognized niche region producing premium wines and providing quality wine tourism experiences.
Representing 119 member wineries throughout the province, the BCWI supports and markets the Wines of British Columbia (BC VQA), which gives consumers assurance they are buying a wine that is 100% from BC. The BCWI also markets the Wine Regions of BC; delivers quality trade, media and consumer tastings; and acts as the voice of BC’s wine industry by advocating to government on behalf of its members.
