Historic Winter Freezes Are Testing Vineyards Across Canada

In recent years, grape growers across several Canadian regions have been hit by severe winter freezes. In Ontario, particularly in Niagara, the 2022 harvest represented on average about 50% of a normal season, following exceptional winter damage. In the Okanagan Valley, five days of extremely cold weather in January 2024 was even more devastating: up to 95% of buds were destroyed, and nearly half the vines will need to be replaced.

In Nova Scotia, the Polar Vortex of February 2023 brought temperatures down to –25°C, causing major structural damage to vines. The provincial government released a $15 million emergency fund to support growers.

In Québec, the 2021 and 2022 winters were especially damaging for vineyards growing vinifera varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Early in the season, limited snowfall provided little insulation, and poorly sealed geotextile covers left vines exposed. Temperatures between –22°C and –35°C are not uncommon in this region, and many vineyards experienced significant vine loss, a reminder that winter protection remains the main challenge for Vitis vinifera in Québec.

Everywhere, the consequences are the same: scattered rows, dead vines, and increased pressure on profitability. When losses exceed a certain threshold, full replanting becomes necessary. But in many cases, targeted interplanting remains a viable solution if growers have the tools to do it.

The Problem: Dead Grapevines… and No One to Replace Them

A dead grapevine isn’t just an empty space. It’s a silent loss. It still takes space, still needs weeding, but produces nothing. And a missing vine costs just as much to manage as a healthy one. Fewer grapes, same costs: profitability erodes row by row.

In many vineyards, especially in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, growers hesitated to replant after winter losses. Replacing vines comes with a cost, but the real barrier is labour. Labour shortages only add to the challenge.

Manual interplanting (or vine replacement) is demanding. You need a dedicated team, equipment, coordination and all that during the busiest season of the year: spraying, trellising, planting, bottling. So it gets postponed… and eventually forgotten. The gaps grow, quietly but steadily.

The economic impact is real. A missing vine is a lost line on the books. On a larger scale, failing to replant means losing future income every year.

Vitis-import Has Been On the Ground

Between April and June 2025, our team was in the Okanagan Valley, helping ans supporting growers replant entire blocks after the January freeze. One thing was clear: when losses are severe, full block replanting is the best solution. But in many vineyards, the losses were partial and that’s where interplanting makes sense.

The issue? Even if it’s just a few dozen or hundred vines, labour and time are lacking. The rest of the vineyard still demands attention. And organizing a manual replanting campaign is logistically difficult.

In the Maritimes, the constraint is even more obvious. Many growers have missing vines after the 2023 Polar Vortex. But without labour, interplanting is delayed or abandoned. Dead vines stay in place, unseen but costly.

This situation, confirmed in the field, validated what our technical teams had been predicting:
Interplanting can’t be occasional. It must become an annual strategy.

As one expert put it during our May 14, 2025 webinar:
“Interplanting is not an occasional project. It’s a long-term strategy.”

– François Guillaume, Pépinières Guillaume, France

By replacing a few vines every spring, growers avoid the buildup of missing vines, spread out costs, and protect future yields. Acting row by row allows early intervention, before the entire block becomes unviable.

Once dead vines exceed 7% of a block, action is recommended:

• either targeted interplanting,

• or full replanting, if losses are clustered.

In both cases, what matters most is: timing and tools.

A Concrete Solution: Mechanical Interplanting in 2026

At Vitis-import, this new service is based on real-world needs. Interplanting is necessary, but hard to execute, especially in BC and the Maritimes. We needed a reliable and accessible solution for Canadian vineyards.

Starting in 2026, we’ll offer a new mechanical interplanting service a first in Canada. This is based on proven European technology, where over 50% of vine replacements are now done by machine.

We use a mini-excavator with a hollow-core auger. It plants a new vine between two existing ones, without removing trellis wires. Everything is designed for precision and minimal disturbance.

In a single pass, the machine:

• Digs to the right depth at the exact missing vine location

• Places the new vine with a precision tube

• Installs a stake, if needed

• Adds water or amendments, if requested

• Closes the hole cleanly with built-in wings

This process allows for clean, consistent, and efficient planting. It’s not about speed it’s about alignment, precision, and better success rates.

The service is suitable for all vineyard sizes from dozens to hundreds of gaps. It’s ideal for those facing labour shortages or/and recovering from winter losses.

It’s a practical, field-tested solution to help you manage dead vines without disrupting your operations.

Why Interplanting Can’t Wait

During our May 14, 2025 webinar, one key point stood out:
“Interplanting must become part of your vineyard routine.”

By replacing a few vines each year, you prevent gap buildup and avoid massive replanting later. You also spread out costs and effort.

Still, even with a machine, some agronomic rules remain essential:

• Timing:
  Remove dead vines early, prep planting spots, and interplant as early as possible in spring when soils are ready. This ensures better rooting and establishment.

• Rootstock choice:
  Match the soil, moisture regime, vine neighbours, and your production goals. In some cases, more vigorous rootstocks help young vines establish better in a mature block.

• Post-plant care:
  Protect young vines physically (vine shelters), stake them, water twice (8 L each time), and monitor closely. A vine that stops growing is often thirsty or stressed.
  And even with no fruit, young vines need disease protection (especially against downy and powdery mildew).

A Field-Based, Practical Solution

This mechanical interplanting service wasn’t invented in theory. It was built row by row, with real growers, facing weather, labour, and cost pressures.

It’s a real, accessible, effective solution to keep your vineyard productive.

At Vitis-import, we know every vine counts.
If you have dead vines to replace or want to adopt a continuous interplanting strategy contact us.
We’re here to support you with precision, planning, and practical tools.

SEE MORE ABOUT OUR NEW SERVICE

Sources Consulted

• Ontario Wine Appellation Authority. (VQA Ontario, 2023). Vintage Report 2022

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2024) – Emergency Assistance for Wine Grape Growers – Nova Scotia

• The Grower. (May 20, 2024) – Almost all of Okanagan grape crop lost to deep freeze

• The Grower (April 09, 2024) – Polar Vortex funding available for NS fruit growers

• Vitis-import. (2025) – May 14 Webinar Summary – Interplanting as a Continuous Strategy

• On-the-ground Vitis-import reports – Okanagan, Ontario, and Maritimes (Spring–Summer 2025)