Vineyards in B.C.’s Okanagan test new ways to mitigate extreme cold [Video]

Bobby Arcego pulls back a thick layer of straw, exposing the young grapevine underneath.

As vineyard manager of Black Hills Estate Winery in Oliver, B.C., this is one of the new methods, he’s using to try to protect this year’s crop.

Last year, extreme cold wiped out 95 per cent of B.C.’s wine grapes.

“We saw temperatures dip down to -27 degrees, even some -29 degrees in areas around here, and that caused us to see extensive damage and death with our vines,” said Arcego.

“If we can’t protect against the cold weather, we’re going to be questioning if it’s a region that we can grow wine grapes in.”

Another method he’s using involves geotextiles — a white fabric that helps trap heat generated by the earth.

Arcego says …