Grape harvest begins in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley

This year’s grape harvest could have lower yields but higher quality in Nova Scotia.

The grape harvest is underway across the Annapolis Valley. While the season started out with regular rain, weeks of drought has followed.

The operations manager at Domaine de Grand Pre says grapes are hardy.

“I mean when it comes to grapes unlike some other agricultural products, grapevines can handle a fair amount of drought stress” Jason Lynch says.

The province’s wine industry is worth $245 million dollars annually.

The drought might cause the quantity of grapes to be down, but Lynch is expecting what they bottle could be better than usual.

“Higher quality, more intensified flavours so from a quality standpoint, the crop should be good this year.”

The lack of rain does have a downside. Lynch had to replant five acres that were damaged or destroyed by the polar vortex in 2023. Those plants weren’t ready for the lack of rain.

“Over the last two years, most of the plantings happened so most of the vines are one to two years old, in some cases three but still very susceptible to drought.

“That dryer growing season for new vines or new plantings, they are not as established so they can’t handle as much stress,” Lynch says.

One thousand one hundred jobs are tied to the wine industry. Some of them are now busy at Domaine de Grand Pre picking the grapes while they’re in their prime.

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