The news in 2020 has been focused on the global pandemic and rightly so. But there seems to be a silver lining to that dark cloud. The 2020 vintage in Ontario’s wine country looks like a winner! (And let’s hope wine enthusiasts will refrain from calling it The Pandemic Vintage.)
The Average for Niagara’s Wine Region
| Annual Average | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Growing Degree Days 1590 (The accumulation of days during the growing season that are 10 degrees C or more) | More Growing Degree Days >1640 |
| Frost Free Days 208 (The days between the last date there is a chance of frost in the spring and the first date for frost in the fall) | More Frost Free Days (only 2 events at our winery) |
| July Mean Temperature 22.3 (Degrees Celsius) | Hotter July 28 (Degrees Celsius) |
| Precipitation 546 mm | Drier Summer/Early Fall June ~ 27.4 mm July ~ 29.8 mm Aug. ~ 50 mm Sept. ~ 21.6 mm Oct. ~ 51.5 mm |
Why 2020 Looks Like a Great Vintage
Conditions have been near perfect for grape growing with very little disease and pest pressure. The weather has been very cooperative and most harvesting was done earlier than usual and ahead of November rains.
Sugar accumulation and phenolic ripeness (flavour compounds found in the grape skins) pleased our winemaker! The white grape varieties had good acid levels, higher sugars, and riper flavours. In red grape varieties colour and tannin (also contained in grape skins) were very good, promising some complexity in the red wines.
However, yields were lighter than last year, but our winemaker says “quality usually comes at a sacrifice of quantity.”
Niagara vintages of note: 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2020
Harvest @Frogpond
- September – This is the month of the most rapid increase in sugar in grapes. There was plenty of sun, the air was warm and fruit maturation reached its peak. We harvested Pinot Grigio on Sept. 23; Chardonnay on Sept. 24; Riesling and Gamay Noir on Sept. 25
- October – During this month we monitored sugar and acid levels of the remaining grapes. We harvested Merlot and Chambourcin on Oct. 7; Vidal on Oct. 16; half of the Cabernet Franc on Oct. 16 and the rest of Cabernet Franc on Oct. 31.
- November – Harvest is complete! Now we are ready to prepare the vineyard for winter by hilling the vines up with soil for protection from the freezing temperatures to come.
Preliminary Tastings from Tank
Pinot Grigio 2020 ~ ample body, pink grapefruit and developing white peach favours with a hint of almond and stony minerality
Chardonnay 2020 ~ smooth, developing flavours of quince, apple and pear
Riesling 2020 ~ Meyer lemon, apple, balanced acidity and developing minerality … it’s a beauty!
Gamay Noir 2020 ~ ripe strawberry and cherry notes
(Merlot 2020, Chambourcin 2020, Vidal 2020 & Cabernet Franc 2020 ~ not yet ready for tasting)
The 2020 Harvest Around the World
- Most regions had warm dry summers that pushed early harvests, with less acidity but promising rounder wines
- However, California’s Napa and Sonoma regions experienced scorching heat and wildfires; France had drought and heat waves; Italy saw thunderstorms and tornadoes
- Pandemic lockdowns and USA tariffs on EU wines have resulted in cellars full of unsold wine
- Much of that wine is being sold in bulk to be distilled into industrial alcohol (for hand sanitizers and perfume)
- Globally, there is a surplus of wine with producers scrambling to find extra storage and authorities in some countries paying growers to reduce crop (Spain)
I am so looking forward to the finished 2020 wines of Niagara and anticipate that our Frogpond Farm organic wines will develop into something truly special!
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