Are you looking for a vinyard to buy in Okanagan BC?
Photo used under Creative Commons from southernfoodwaysalliance
Available for sale is Basque Vineyard at Thompson Valley near Ashcroft. This 12.2 acres (additional 31 adjacent acres can be rented or purchased to expand the production) once thriving Basque Vineyard was farmed from late 1970 to mid 1985 by Bill Drinkwater's family. The vineyard was planted with:
4 acres of Gewurztraminer, a shite German grape
3 acres of chardonnay, a white French Grape
6 acres of Riesling, a German white
8 acres of Chancellor, a red habrid
5 acres of Patricia's, a red grape sold for preserves
1/2 dozen acres of de Chaunac, a French hybrid
It was a flourishing vineyard and the crops that was produced in 1982 to 1985 enjoyed wide press coverage.
An un-expected frost in 1985 - one of Okanagan's colder's winters devasted the grapevines. It was brutal! At the begining of November, the temperature fell to as low as minus 28 and it stayed cod for 5 weeks. The grapevines didn't have a chance to survive this extream cold.
Limiting frost damage
There are several things that can be done to control or limit frost damage in the vineyard. Good site selection is, of course, the first priority. Basque Vineyard has a gentle south-facing inclination which provides good air drainage, a protection from frost damage in the early spring and late fall.
There are now more grape varieties that are more frost resistant and the selection of those that thrive well here will enhance the success of this vineyard. Other measures like wind machines, sprinklers, and heaters are available to limit frost damage.
For more info about Basque Vineyard, kindly call James Wong at 604-721-4817 or email James.
