The 2024 freeze wiped out most of that year’s crop and led to the removal of 2,490 acres from production in 2025. But nearly all of it has been replaced.
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I’m wrapping up nine days of work at this year’s Wine Align National Wine Awards in Niagara, but more on that when the results are out next month. In the meantime, I wanted to share some key highlights from the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s 2025 report on wine grape acreage.
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Since I frequently get questions about what’s happening in B.C. wine country — specifically, grape varieties and planted acreage — I thought it would be helpful to share some highlights from the report.
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Wine grape production in B.C. has been in flux for several years, due to a series of climate-related crises. Severe cold snaps in late 2022 and January 2024, combined with ongoing drought and heat-dome events and more frequent wildfires, have had a significant impact across the industry. Add to that shifting tastes, and you get a landscape that is changing to meet demand.
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West Coast Table
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The 2024 freeze wiped out most of that crop and led to the removal of 2,490 acres from production in 2025. Nevertheless, nearly all of this area — 2,388 acres — was replanted in 2026, restoring B.C.’s total acreage to within 500 acres of 2023 levels. While full production will lag by another two or three years, advances in viticulture, better site selection or changes in aspect, and overall knowledge of grape-growing and winemaking should trigger another significant jump in wine quality.
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While Syrah suffered from the extreme cold, Pinot Noir — famously called the heartbreak grape — has shown remarkable resilience in overcoming the challenges. It now dominates the vineyards, with 1,216 acres, and much of that is producing high-quality, high-priced wines. Among the valley’s top producers, Martin’s Lane, Spearhead, O’Rourke Family Estate, Meyer Vineyards, Blue Mountain, Quail’s Gate, and CedarCreek are all investing heavily in Pinot Noir’s future in B.C.
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Merlot vines have slipped to the No. 2 position at 1,175 acres. The potential for B.C. Merlot is big, but a flood of cheap international and some local labels has given the wine a less-than-fashionable image among consumers. Stay tuned. It will change for the better sooner rather than later.
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On the move and closing fast are Chardonnay at 1,083 acres and an emerging Cabernet Franc at 1,033 acres. After that, the numbers run down quickly with Pinot Gris (840), Cabernet Sauvignon (668), Riesling (432), Syrah (350), Sauvignon Blanc (303), Gamay Noir (243), Gewürztraminer (203), followed by Malbec, Viognier, Pinot Blanc, Petit Verdot, Marechal Foch, Muscat, Pinot Meunier, and Ehrenfelser.
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Some of B.C.’s most promising grapes are Albarino, Verdejo, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grüner Veltliner, and dry versions of Ortega and Bacchus. The sample size of the wines is very small, but the excitement factor is large and growing. It would appear that nearly 40 years after establishing the original VQA standards, winegrowers are showing the confidence to explore more and more of the outer edge of the circle of wines that can grow in B.C.
