Harvest is Underway in Niagara

Harvest 2021 has begun and it’s shaping up to be another great vintage! This year’s grape harvest is earlier than an average year as a result of a hot growing season with our recent heatwave speeding up the ripening process.

Aaron Oppenlaender, Vineyard Operations Manager at Huebel Grapes Estates, says his team was handpicking Pinot Noir grapes this week that are destined for sparkling wine.

“At this site in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we’ve had an early start to the season because of the heat and timely rainfall,” Oppenlaender says. “The plants are just loving the season so far and harvest is looking excellent.”

Huebel Grapes Estates has been growing grapes in Niagara for more than 30 years and supply grapes to several small and large wineries in the area. Last year’s vintage was one of the best growers and winemakers had seen in years, with grapes full of concentrated flavours leading to some great quality wines and we could see the same this year.

“I think this year will be as good as 2020, if not better, but harvest has only just begun,” he says. “We manage vineyards all over Niagara-on-the-Lake and each site has seen different weather patterns. Some have seen enough rain, and some have seen very little to none.”

So, it all depends on September’s weather as white and red wine grapes for table wines will be harvested in the next several weeks.