Niagara’s 2020 Harvest Is One of The Best in Years

2020 is definitely a year for the history books. But here’s something we can celebrate – the 2020 harvest!

Grape growers and winemakers in Niagara say this year is one of the best harvests they’ve seen, and Mother Nature is to thank. The hot, dry summer followed by the great fall weather created ideal grape-growing conditions.

“We haven’t seen a September and October like this in many years,” says John Fedorkow, a grape grower in Niagara on the Lake. “The quality this year is just fantastic.”

Fedorkow explains that it’s the fall weather that can make or break a harvest.

“We could have a great summer and things could be looking good, but it can turn around quickly if we have a wet fall,” Fedorkow says. “Last year, because we didn’t have the warm weather, the acid levels in the grapes were too high. We were sitting on pins and needles.”

Wine grapes must have the perfect balance between fruit sugars and acids.

He says there is no comparing last year’s challenging harvest to this year’s spectacular one. The grapes are full of concentrated flavours which means winemakers will be producing some great quality wines this vintage.

“I would want to put a 2020 red in the cellar and hang on to it for a few years because it is going to age well,” he said.

Fedorkow has been growing grapes in Niagara for more than 20 years and grows for Peller Estates Winery and Creekside Estate Winery. He’s the current appointed Grape King for the Grape Growers of Ontario acting as an ambassador for the industry.