The recent cold snap in Ontario has had a potentially devastating effect on grape vines — the second winter in a row for wide-spread bud damage.
Most recent sampling conducted by Brock University’s CCOVI VineAlert program in Niagara shows bud survival rates predicated as low as 10% for Chardonnay in the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation, Cabernet Franc at 17% and the usually hardy Riesling at a 32% survival rate.
Some Niagara sub-appellations are showing much worse results than others. Creek Shores, Vinemount Ridge, Twenty Mile Bench and Short Hills Bench are showing some of the harshest results while Niagara Lakeshore, Four-Mile Creek and Niagara River show somewhat better results.
There are no samples from Feb. 18 yet posted on the VineAlert site yet for the Beamsville Bench and St. Davids Bench. And no new results yet from Lake Erie North Shore or Prince Edward County, though there are indications from those on the ground there that some damage is also predicted.
The latest results are particularly tough to swallow coming in the wake of 2014 that was the worst winter since 2005 and caused wide-spread damage to the most vulnerable grapes in Ontario, especially Syrah, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Here are some results of bud survival rates as of Feb. 18 in Niagara by sub-appellation in Niagara:
Beamsville Bench (no results)
Creek Shores — Merlot 20%, Pinot Noir 18%, Syrah 23%, Riesling 25%, Cab Sauv 49%
Four-Mile Creek — Chardonnay 48%, Cabernet Franc 56% (no Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling samples)
Lincoln Lakeshore (no results)
Niagara Lakeshore — Chardonnay 85%, Cabernet Franc 63%, Merlot 75%, Pinot Noir 71%
Niagara River — Chardonnay 58%, Cabernet Franc 47%, Syrah 47%, Sauvignon Blanc 61%, Riesling 66%
Short Hills Bench — Chardonnay 24%, Cabernet Franc 22%, Sauvignon Blanc 16%
St. Davids Bench (no results)
Twenty Mile Bench — Chardonnay 21%, Cabernet Franc 35%, Sauvignon Blanc 24%
Vinemount Ridge — Chardonnay 10%, Cabernet Franc 17%, Riesling 32%.
It should be noted that these results are from samples and may not necessarily be representative of the entire sub-appellation. Results will vary from vineyard to vineyard.
As Chateau des Charmes marketing director Michele Bosc noted in a Facebook post:
“It’s a bit too early to sound the death knell. No doubt it’s nail biting. But so many factors will determine how the vines fare: sustained cold, of course, but also pruning techniques, yield management, clonal selection, site selection, effective use of wind machines etc. keep your fingers crossed but don’t count us out yet!”
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