There are some nice-looking apples waiting to be picked at apple orchards across the region, including Wagner Orchards and Estate Winery in Lakeshore. “Because we’re pick your own, I’m always so excited to see all the families that come back every year,” said Katrina Wagner, daughter of orchard founder Harold Wagner who says some varieties did well while others fell short. “If you look back at what May was. It rained and it was really cold. We had bees here and bees don’t leave out of the hive if it’s cold out,” Harold explained. He says the cold weather delayed the start of their season. “The trees flowered good but then if it rained, then cold then rain they (the bees) didn’t pollinate and that’s what we needed so that slowed them down,” he said. A lack of rain the last few weeks has been challenging as well. “We only had an inch and a half in a month; it’s kind of the time of the year when you need some because they really size up,” Harold added. Katrina says it’s not their biggest crop. “But we’ll take it. There’s been years where there’s been nothing, so you have to be more selective when you pick. You have to walk a little bit more. It’s all part of the fun, right?” At Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery weather had a different effect on crops. A tough winter will affect output on some of the varieties. “Some varietals were going to have lower tonnage. some varietals we won’t have any crop at all and other varietals didn’t even notice,” said Stephen Mitchell, Sprucewood owner. He pointed out Petite Pearl, Marquette, and Baco Noir don’t feel the winter as much as Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc grapes do. Sprucewood has an irrigation system to guard against the lack of rain as well. “I do feel in general this year for grapes, I was happy with the amount of rain we got.” As Vice Chair of the Ontario Craft Winery Association, Mitchell feels the quality of this year’s harvest will keep tourism flowing in the area. “I think in general the tourism in the area has been solid. we’ve seen increasing growth year over year, and this past year has been no exception.”
