Helping the BC Wine Industry Beat the Heat: Scientists Seek Genomic Solutions to Grapevine Heat Stress

Climate change is challenging BC wine producers. Extreme weather events such as rising temperatures, changing rainfall and frost patterns, and smoke from wildfires have caused recent catastrophic crop losses.   

This has left the BC wine industry — which annually contributes around $3.75 billion and employs over 14,000 workers in the province — struggling to cope and looking for answers.  

Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) funded researchers are using genomic techniques to explore the impacts on heat stress on grapevines and to find solutions for the industry. This is a partnership between Genome BC, the University of British Columbia's (UBC) Wine Research Centre, the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network, the BC Wine Grape Council and Andrew Peller Limited. 

"We know that these peaks in seasonal temperatures are occurring more often. Heatwaves are stressing grapevines and impacting both production volumes and quality. We need to equip grape growers and winemakers with better decision-making tools," said Ben Bryant, Vice-President, Western Canada Operations and National Distribution from Andrew Peller Limited. 

"Extreme heat can cause crop losses and affect the taste profile of the grapes. We need to know how to counter this and preserve plants, regardless of the climate conditions." 

A heatwave is generally defined as a period of three or more consecutive days with temperatures exceeding traditional norms. Lead researcher, Dr. Simone Castellarin from UBC's Wine Research Centre, says it's common in Okanagan Valley to see temperatures over 35°C for three days or more. "This is why we want to understand the physiological impact of heat stress on the vines."