Nova Scotia wine producers worried about impact of deep snow

This winter's deep snow is causing a new set of worries for those harvesting grapes for Nova Scotia's wine industry.

Benjamin Bridge vineyard owner Gerry McConnell is concerned about the labour issues this year's snow dump might cause.

It's a business that is no stranger to the whims of mother nature. McConnell says it seems like every year she throws the wineries a curve-ball. Last year it was the high winds from post-tropical storm Arthur. This year, the deep, deep snow.

McConnell, who started the vineyard in 2000, says they've never seen a winter like this, with snow this deep in April.

"And people who've been involved with vineyards longer than that say the same thing, that we just haven't experienced this," he said.

The impact of the massive amount of snow dump has left McConnell and others in the industry guessing about what this season will bring.

"Are they [the vines] just going to explode once the warm weather comes?" he asked. "Or is it the impact that the bud break is going to be pushed back? And we won't know that until springtime comes."

The depth of snow means vineyard crews haven't been able to get out into the fields to prune and tie up the vines before bud break.

McConnell is particularly concerned about the potential labour shortages that could happen if the buds break later than normal and the season for pruning and trimming is compressed.

"It's difficult in normal seasons to get sufficient local labour to carry out what has to be done in the vineyard when the buds break out," he said.

"We've been really blessed with having a core group of five or six people who've been with us almost from the beginning and they're excellent workers," he said. "But I think that there's going to be too much in front of us and we're going to have to add to the pruning and tying up crew to get it done before bud break occurs."

There is the potential for a silver lining for McConnell and others harvesting grapes. The late bud break that has the potential to increase labour costs could also help the crop.

There is always the danger of having a late frost at the end of May or into June, which is "danger period" for the plants. But if the bud break hasn't happened by the time the frost sets in, that could keep plants from getting ruined and could actually be a plus for growers.

"So there's some, I guess if you look for it, there is a positive even with all of the potential negatives that may occur," he said.