The 2024 harvest has been one of the most challenging on record for British Columbia wineries. Winter cold snaps in 2022 and early 2024 caused extensive damage to vineyards across the region, reducing crop yields significantly and pushing many wineries to explore different solutions to maintain production and quality. As BC wineries work through a year like no other, let’s look at how some of them are navigating these challenges.
Blasted Church Vineyards
Located in Okanagan Falls, Blasted Church Vineyards, known for its bold branding, kicked off its 2024 harvest in an unprecedented location: Washington State. In response to a drastically reduced BC crop, Blasted Church is collaborating with Andrews Family Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA to source top-quality Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, Pinot Gris, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Evan Saunders has made frequent trips to Prosser, Washington, overseeing the harvest and ensuring that each grape meets Blasted Church’s high standards.
The white grapes are harvested mechanically at night and immediately processed, and the temperature-controlled juice was transported to Okanagan Falls for vinification. Red grapes were brough to Okanagan Falls from Washington.
“It’s strange to look out over our vineyard and see green but no grapes,” Saunders shares, “but starting from juice is an interesting twist for us!”
Despite the unconventional harvest, Blasted Church remains committed to producing the quality wines it has been known for since 2002. For wine enthusiasts, current releases are available both on-site and online at blastedchurch.com.
Blasted Church grape picking at Andrew Family Vineyards in Washington for harvest 2024
Haywire Winery
Over at Haywire Winery in Summerland, the 2024 harvest was equally unusual. The winery team managed to produce just 50 cases of wine from their Switchback Vineyard, making this the smallest harvest on record. Due to the limited yield, traditional equipment couldn’t be used; instead, the winery team got hands-on and foot-on, with foot stomping in bins. Foot stomping or foot treading’s preferred term is pigeage [pronounced pih-zhee-AHGE], French for treading. After a night’s soak, the grape juice was transferred to amphora, creating a unique vintage that captures what could have been a more abundant 2024.
While Haywire chose not to source grapes from other regions, they’ve developed new seasonal releases, including Narrative Haskap Lemonade, Hard Iced Tea, Mulled Wine, and Spiced Apple Wine—all packaged in lightweight, fully recyclable pouches. This allows Haywire to offer a refreshing lineup for fall and winter while preserving their customers’ trust in the authenticity of their locally-grown wines. Learn more about Haywire and the winery’s offerings at okanagancrushpad.com
Pigeage at Haywire’s Switchback Vineyard for the winery’s small harvest 2024
Singletree Winery
For Singletree Winery in the Fraser Valley, the 2024 season brought a delayed but promising harvest. Cooler temperatures pushed the start of harvest back by nearly three weeks, with Siegerrebe and a new Pinot Noir clone being picked in late September. The team also harvested Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc over Thanksgiving weekend, with Grüner Veltliner still on the vine as late as this post. Despite rain and other weather challenges, the winery reported low disease pressure, allowing for a successful harvest.
Singletree Winery is pleased to see increased yields compared to the previous two years. This year’s vintage is set to deliver abundant Rosé and Siegerrebe ("Siggy")—a promising outcome after a challenging season. Learn more about Singletree at singletreewinery.com
Singletree Winery grapes from harvest 2024
SpearHead Winery
SpearHead Winery’s vineyard in southeast Kelowna was hit particularly hard by the January cold snap, requiring a complete replanting in 2025. To make up for this year’s lost harvest, SpearHead has turned to vineyards in Washington and Oregon. Collaborations with Washington vineyards near Prosser provided Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Pinot Noir, while Cherry Hills Vineyard in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills AVA supplied Pinot Noir, allowing SpearHead to offer multiple expressions of this iconic grape.
The SpearHead team is dedicated to ensuring top quality, with winemaker Grant Stanley overseeing the vineyard selection and transportation to Okanagan Falls in temperature-controlled trucks. This unique vintage will be specially labeled to mark the winery’s first use of out-of-province grapes, a testament to SpearHead’s commitment to exceptional wines. You can check out SpearHead’s offerings at spearheadwinery.com
Solvero Wines
In Summerland, Solvero Wines decided to source grapes beyond BC for the 2024 harvest. Following bud damage to their vineyards, winemaker Alison Moyes sought out premium Chardonnay from top AVA regions in Washington and Oregon. Moyes oversaw the hand-harvest and pressing of these grapes, ensuring that every step aligns with Solvero’s standards before the juice is cold-shipped back to BC for fermentation.
Meanwhile, the Solvero team is working to retrunk their damaged vines—a practice that allows them to preserve established rootstock and encourage future production. Moyes is optimistic and is embracing the opportunity to make wine with high-quality grapes from outside BC, providing an exciting, temporary addition to their lineup as their vineyards recover. Learn more about Solvero Wines at solverowines.ca
Alison Moyes, Solvero’s general manager and winemaker, in Oregon for harvest 2024
What Lies Ahead for BC Wineries
As BC wineries navigate this unusual harvest, their adaptability and dedication to quality is clear. Many are blending creativity and sustainability to maintain production while staying true to their roots. Whether sourcing from nearby AVAs or embracing smaller batch production, these wineries show that resilience is key in the ever-changing world of winemaking.
And on that, if there was ever a time to support BC wineries, the time is NOW. Whether you visit in person, buy online, join a wine club, or select BC wines at a BC Liquor Store, private retailer, or your favourite restaurant, support these small agriculture businesses making BC wines.