By Tommy Osborne

Wine shortage

99% of B.C.’s vineyards destroyed, what does this mean for Prince George?

Apr 6, 2024 | 4:40 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The last two years have been especially cruel to our province’s vineyards. Since 2022, climate disasters like droughts, too much heat, and deep freezes have devastated 99% of our province’s wine drops, particularly in the main growing region of the Okanagan.

“Two winters ago there was a huge kill off where the temperatures dropped below 20 degrees in the Okanagan and killed about 50% of the grape crop at that time. This year there was another significant freeze in January which killed another 50%,” explained Doug Bell, a Northern Lights Estate Winery Operating Partner.

With virtually all of the grapes in the main producing region of the Okanagan dead, Bell says we’ll of course see a huge reduction in supply of local B.C. wines, although the Canadian wine industry as a whole should still be fine for the most part. But what about for the Northern Lights Estate Winery specifically? While Prince George hasn’t been immune to irregular climate and drought, it actually escaped unscathed because it produces fruit wine, not traditional grape wine.

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“Luckily at our winery, because we do go with cold hardy fruits other than grape, we are able to actually be a little more resilient and we’re going to not have that same disruption in supply,” Bell said.

Bell says his heart goes out to all vineyards struggling, and he wants to do what he can to keep that local B.C. wine presence in stores all across the province. Not only is it a great business opportunity, he believes in the importance of supporting fellow local wine producers.

“We just want to help the entirety of the industry not have a diminished shelf space and a presence. We want to make sure that we maximize the presence because we see it as a rising tide floating all boats, including fruit wine and grape wine. As long as it’s local to B.C.”

While fruit and grape wine obviously have their differences in taste and production, the wines aren’t so drastically different as to be considered entirely different beverages. Bell knows people have their preferences, but he believes this is also a good chance for more people to try fruit wine to both enjoy its unique qualities while also recognizing the overlap it has with grape wines.

In Bell’s and the majority of wine experts opinions, there is no doubt we will see a severe shortage in B.C. wines due to the Okanagan crop disaster, but Bell believes it won’t come for at least another year.

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