The weather may be blistering hot, but winemakers in Essex County aren't complaining — they say the grapes are loving it.
A mild winter, a warm spring and lots of sunshine are expected to contribute to the best harvest in at least three seasons.
Colio Estate Wines Winemaker Allison Christ says it's a big improvement over the 2015 and 2014 seasons.
"Down in the Lake Erie north shore here, all of the wineries are going to have grapes this year, which is so exciting," she says.
Christ says many vineyards had to replant their vines so the overall yield may be down this season, but those with established vines expect a bumper crop.
"Over the next few weeks we could use a little bit more rain, but this great sunshine is fantastic," says Christ. "As it goes into September, maybe dry up a little bit, and we'll have a great start to the harvest season."
While the weather doesn't directly impact the flavour of the wine, Christ says it does help grapes mature, and that can affect how the end product tastes.
The harvest for some varieties, like sparkling wines, will start at the end of August. For other varieties, it'll start at the beginning of September.
