Grapes and Wine

WHAT ARE GRAPES?

Grapes are a type of fruit. They grow in bunches or clusters on grape vines. They are classified as a type of berry because they grow on vines. Grape clusters can be green, red, pink or purple.

WHERE ARE GRAPES PRODUCED IN BC?

In British Columbia, grapes are grown in the Okanagan Valley, the Similkameen Valley, the Fraser Valley, and on Vancouver Island. The largest producing areas are in the Okanagan Valley near Oliver/Osoyoos and Kelowna. Grapes need a warm climate with an annual average temperature above 10°C. The single most limiting factor for growing grapes is low temperatures which prevent grapes from ripening or damage plants in the vineyards . Grapes also need a mix of rain and sun. In the Okanagan Valley, they need to be irrigated. This is because the valley receives less than 30mm of annual precipitation as a result of being in the rain shadow of mountains. Coastal rains are forced up the Cascade Mountains and dry out before reaching the valley.

HOW MANY GRAPES DO WE PRODUCE?

In 1991, BC produced about 4000 tonnes of grapes. This amount of grapes could be envisioned as being the same as 4000 Chevy Nova cars. 220 of these tonnes were sold as fresh grapes. Production from one year to the next fluctuates because of low temperature damage and variation in precipitation (irrigation and rain). Wineries use much more than we produce, but may not want all of the production to come from local sources.

HOW ARE GRAPES PRODUCED?

Grape cultivation is called viticulture. Viti means vine in Latin. Grapes grow on long thin vines that twist around anything. Most commercial growers set up some type of trellis system in fields to support the vines. Trellis systems are a series of posts, sometimes with crossarms, connected by wires which the grapes twist around. This keeps the grapes off the ground and allows workers and machines easy access to the fields. Vineyards are rows and rows of grape vines trained on trellis systems.

A grape vine does not produce a full crop for 3 to 4 years. It takes five years before a grape vine produces at full capacity, which is 10 to 35kg per vine. Vines are pruned to limit harvest so the vines reach mature size quickly. Grape clusters form in spring and are harvested in the fall. Grapes are picked by hand or by machine. Table grape and fresh grape clusters are individually picked by twisting the stem by hand or by cutting them off with a knife or pruning shears. Wine grapes can be harvested by a machine which shakes the clusters off the grape vines.

WHAT DOES A GRAPE LOOK LIKE WHEN I USE IT?

90% of the grapes grown world wide are used in wine. Wine grapes are green and red. Grapes are also eaten fresh. Purple or white grapes are squished to make juice. Jams and jellies are made from juice and pulp; fruit leather is made from the skin and pulp. Grapeseed oil is made from the seeds. This oil is used for cosmetics and cooking. It is rated better than Extra Virgin olive oil.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE GRAPES LEAVE THE FARM?

After harvest, table grapes are sent directly to market. Wine grapes are picked into bins and sent to a winery. At the winery, the grapes are crushed. For white wine the skins and seeds are removed. The juice is put into containers to ferment. This fermentation process which creates alcohol and carbon dioxide takes 10 to 30 days or more depending on the type of wine that is produced. Then the wine is racked and all the pulp, seeds and skin are removed. The wine is put into casks or barrels to age; then it is bottled and sold.

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES THE GRAPE PRODUCER FACE?

Early grape growers tried to import European varieties to grow in North America. These vines were ruined by the cold winters and various diseases and insects. Now European grapes are grown by grafting European grapes onto North American stock. Insecticides are sometimes used to control many insects that damage grape plants. Grapes also need to be protected from birds. This can be done by netting the grapes, using noise machines, or using colourful streamers which frighten the birds. Fencing a vineyard is important to keep deer out. Rabbits like young grape vines. Plastic or wire guards, or low electric fences can be used to keep them at bay.

WHO'S INVOLVED IN PRODUCING GRAPES?

• Vineyard owner
• Field workers to prune, spray and harvest
• Winery owners and workers
• Liquor store employees

Interesting Fact About Grapes:

More grapes are grown than any other fruit in the world. 90% of grapes are used for wine.

Contacts and other resources:

 

BC Independent Grape Growers' Association

BC Wine Institute

BCMAL - Grape Information