With the first harvest from the replanted Sharp Rock Vineyard now on the not-too-distant horizon, it seems like the perfect time to look back over the past 30 years and reflect on how this site has changed since the original vineyard was planted in 1996. Climate change is often discussed in broad, global terms, but what does it actually look like on one vineyard? What have we experienced firsthand, and how are we adapting?
It’s Getting Warmer
That statement applies to much of the planet, but it’s fascinating to see exactly how our seasons have shifted here in the South Okanagan. Of course, there have been exceptional years like 2015 and, most dramatically, the 2021 heat dome. While those extreme events are becoming more common, they don’t tell the whole story of how our climate is changing.
Looking back through historical weather records, the most significant shift isn’t found in the daytime highs – it’s in the nighttime lows. The day’s heat is lingering well after sunset. Where overnight temperatures once regularly dropped below 15°C, they now often remain between 18 and 20°C.
The South Okanagan’s large diurnal temperature swing has always been one of the defining characteristics that makes it such a compelling winegrowing region. Cool nights allow phenolic ripeness to develop gradually while helping grapes retain the acidity that gives wines freshness, structure, and balance.
Warmer nights change that equation. Vines continue respiring throughout the night, using the warmth to keep driving ripening instead of slowing down. It’s one of the reasons we’re anticipating one of the earliest harvests on record this year, even though this growing season hasn’t necessarily felt exceptionally hot during the day.
It’s Getting Drier… In a Way
If you simply looked at annual precipitation records dating back to 1996, you might wonder why growers are talking so much about drought. Total yearly precipitation hasn’t changed dramatically, yet vineyards, orchards, farms and even backyard gardens are experiencing more water stress than ever.
The answer lies not in how much precipitation we receive, but when and how it arrives.
Warmer winters increasingly mean that valley-bottom precipitation falls as rain rather than snow. Combined with earlier mountain snowmelt, much of that water has already flowed through the watershed and into the Pacific long before our vines need it during the heat of summer.
At the same time, rainfall is becoming less frequent but more intense. Our coarse textured, sandy soils have relatively low water-holding capacity, so heavy rainfall often infiltrates quickly beyond the effective rooting zone or runs through the watershed before crops can fully benefit from it.
Hotter summers compound the problem. Increased evaporation dries soils more rapidly, while changing local convection and wind patterns can influence where thunderstorms develop. Surrounded by mountains and already situated within a pronounced rain shadow, even subtle shifts in atmospheric circulation can affect when and where summer rainfall occurs.
This year we experienced warm, humid conditions through June which increased mildew pressure, but careful vineyard management kept the canopies healthy and fruit clean. Another factor putting us on track for an early 2026 harvest.
Wildfires Are the New Normal
Perhaps the most tangible consequence of our changing climate in the Okanagan is the increasing presence of wildfires.
Warmer, drier summers leave more vegetation available to burn while creating conditions that make fires more difficult to control once they begin. Hot valley air also encourages stronger convection, contributing to more frequent thunderstorm development – the primary source of natural wildfire ignitions in our region.
It’s a feedback loop that’s becoming increasingly familiar: Hotter, drier conditions promote more thunderstorms. Hotter, drier conditions create more wildfire fuel. Hotter, drier conditions alter wind patterns that can funnel strong winds down our valleys, intensifying fire behaviour once a fire starts.
How We Adapt
By now we’ve painted a fairly bleak picture, but climate change shouldn’t be viewed only through the lens of loss.
The climate has always evolved, and agriculture has always evolved with it. Rather than fearing every change, we can focus on understanding new conditions, adjusting our farming practices, and finding opportunities where they exist.
One simple example is our decision to leave cover crops growing in the vineyard interrows during the hottest part of summer. While a living cover crop does consume some water, it also acts as a living mulch: shading the soil surface, reducing evaporation, keeping soils cooler, improving infiltration, and building healthier soil structure. During periods of intense heat, those benefits can offset much of the water the cover crop itself uses.
We’ve written at length about the strategic decisions behind our vineyard replant, but it’s rewarding to see those ideas proving themselves in the field.
Our higher-density planting means each vine occupies less space, naturally producing less vegetative growth and a more balanced crop. Individual vines require fewer resources and less water while maintaining fruit quality. We’ve also reoriented our row direction to provide better afternoon shade to the fruit, reducing direct solar exposure during the hottest part of the day while improving canopy efficiency.
Our tractor drivers still like to remind us how many extra turns those new row orientations require. Our response is always the same, “Wait until you taste the wine.”
One of the more exciting opportunities emerging from these changes is the increasing suitability of Cabernet Sauvignon on our site. Historically, achieving full ripeness every vintage was never guaranteed, but the combination of a longer growing season and warmer autumns is steadily improving its consistency. Cabernet Sauvignon thrives when it has the luxury of time, and the extended season allows flavours, tannins, and phenolics to mature gradually without sacrificing balance. While no variety is immune to the challenges of a changing climate, we’re increasingly optimistic that Cabernet Sauvignon will become the defining voice of Sharp Rock Vineyard and the focal point of our wines for years to come.
Ryan McKibbon
Head Winemaker, Black Hills Estate Winery