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‘There was nothing’: How the Okanagan Valley survived and thrived after a devastating frost event

Over the last few vintages, the Okanagan Valley’s producers have survived trials by frost and fire by embracing the unconventional – partnering with other regions while their homegrown grapevines recovered. Kate Dingwall tells the story of resilience and partnership grown in America and made in Canada.

In January 2024, a cold snap hit the Okanagan Valley. The Canadian region’s temperatures dropped to below -26°C (-15°F) for three days straight.

Vine loss was widespread. 90% of the valley’s grape production disappeared. ‘There was nothing,’ says Taylor Whelan, chief winemaker at Mission Hill. ‘We had no harvest.’

The British Columbia government stepped in with a vintage replacement program. Winemakers were granted permission to source abroad so they could salvage the incoming vintages while their vines came back online.

What unfolded was a weird, wonderful exercise in resilience.

Chardonnay makers went to Sonoma, Pinot Noir producers to the Willamette Valley. Syrah winemakers decamped for the Rhône, Sauvignon Blanc experts to New Zealand.

Other vintners partnered with Washington growers, which helped alleviate the state’s oversupply issues.

The big freeze

The Martin’s Lane vineyards in British Columbia. Credit: Martin’s Lane.

‘What the hell do we do?’ was a question Shane Munn, winemaker at Martin’s Lane, asked a lot following the frost.

Replanting takes time – what do they do while vines mature? What will they sell? Do they skip a vintage? Do they have the inventory to do so?


Okanagan’s Redemption: 17 wines to try


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