Print 2001 Vintage Report

2001 Vintage Report
By John Simes, Winemaker

Climatic Conditions:
The weather pattern was above average and much warmer than 2000. There were significant monthly temperature variations during the growing season. Early on in April, it was quite cool. May brought with it much warmer weather and a period of intense heat. By June, the valley had caught up to 2000 and we were trending above the long-term average. Some temperature ground was lost in July, but August came in with a lot of heat and it stayed warm and above average for the rest of the summer and into mid-October. By the time harvest commenced, we had accumulated heat significantly above 2000 and way above the long-term average. Over all, 2001 marked one of the warmest years ever in the valley.

Interestingly, there was a pronounced dichotomy, more so than usual, between the northern and southern ends of the valley. It was a lot cooler in the north and July was particularly cold. December and January were warmer than expected and our Icewine harvest was delayed until the end of January.

2001 Harvest:
Harvest began very early this year on September 12th, but it didn’t end until the wee hours of the morning on January 29th, 2002 when 35 warm-hearted volunteers gave up a night’s sleep to help us pick the frozen Riesling grapes that will be used for Icewine. Under a full moon, with a steady temperature of –8.5 degrees Celsius, Mother Nature finally did her part, enabling us to bring the winery’s longest harvest ever to an end.

The Mission Hill Family Estate vineyards that were planted six years ago are now mature. As vines mature, they yield better-balanced, higher quality fruit. Careful vineyard management, including a green harvest after veraison, continues to yield conservative crop levels. Fruit size and colour in 2001 was quite good. Our reds are exciting. This year’s crop could be the best we’ve ever produced. Our whites are on track to match the 2000 vintage. The 2001 estate grown Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are noteworthy and we continue to be satisfied with the development of our Syrah, especially given that few thought Syrah could succeed in the Okanagan climate. Over all, early indications suggest the quality of the 2001 harvest could be the best in a decade, particularly for our red wines.