The innovative way an Okanagan winery is preventing frost at its vineyards

Quails’ Gate says it's the first winery in Canada to use the new technique preventing frost at its vineyards.

A winery in B.C.’s Okanagan is testing out new technology to keep its vineyards warm – and frost-free – during the winter.

Quails’ Gate says it’s the first winery in Canada to use the new device, putting it into practice on a small section of vines.

When the temperatures plunge, winemaker Rowan Stewart just has to turn the heat up, and his grape vines are warmed.

The company behind the technology, Frolight, uses an infrared system similar to a heat lamp to create frost protection.

“It heats the vine through that light impact,” said Stewart. “Just like standing out in the sun. You’re going to feel warmer when the sun’s on your skin.”

The new tool comes following a severe cold snap in 2023 that decimated many B.C. wineries, resulting in a financial loss of $133 million throughout the province.

The federal government stepped in to help, as part of a $177-million extension for its Wine Sector Support Program, but Stewart feels the frost-preventing technology could be a better long-term solution.

“Saving even half your crop can pay for most systems. And last year, I think most wineries were losing all of their crop and a significant portion of vines.”

The system is powered by a generator, usually running at night and warming the vines by about four degrees.

“The main benefit is going to be protection of those buds,” Stewart said. “So you’ll have more options for fruit for harvest that year, as well as more options for retraining the vine if you need to recover it.”

The system is imported from Belgium and distributed through Quebec. Start-up costs are the main barrier, Stewart says, at about $10,000 to $20,000 per acre.

But with the winter weather becoming increasingly unpredictable, most growers are keen to find new ways to safeguard against climate change.