2024 Harvest Update

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc 2024 at L'Acadie Vineyards, Gaspereau, NS

Harvest 2024 is halfway done and quality and freshness are head turning! We started picking September 16, our earliest harvest ever, and it reminds me of 1998 in the Okanagan Valley when I was winemaker at See Ya Later Ranch winery. That was the earliest harvest for British Columbia wineries at that time too and marked beginning signs of climate change. Here at L'Acadie Vineyards near Wolfville we watch acidity (freshness) closely by sampling grape maturity leading up to harvesting vineyard blocks and have always maintained freshness for close to twenty vintages, the benefit of having our Nova Scotia winery in such an ideal cool climate for sparkling wine.

2024 marks a rebound year from the 2023 polar vortex in Nova Scotia. Pictured above is organic & Biocyclic Vegan Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc planted in 2019. These varieties are far more sensitive than other varieties that we grow at our Gaspereau vineyard, so harsh winter weather can have devastating effects. Last year and this year we meticulously trained new trunks and interplanted where vines had died. We are so excited and grateful to have a beautiful small-lot harvest from our estate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir this year. 🍇✨

Growing grapes on the limits of cool climate viticulture can have risks such as winter damage, but rewards in quality can often surpass world wine standards. Fingers crossed this will be another award winning vintage!

Related blogs, 

/blog/Vineyard-Update---Polar-Vortex-Impact

/blog/Update-from-the-Vineyard

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Thanks for supporting farm wineries in Nova Scotia! These are challenging times with government and we appreciate your support. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wine-grape-growers-tim-houston-vineyards-1.7333355