Dr. Simone Castellarin, UBC-Wine Research Centre - Influence of temperature and heat-stress mitigation strategies on grape quality in British Columbia vineyards.
As evidenced by the 2021 growing season in British Columbia, heat stress events (heatwaves) are a new reality facing wine grape production. However, compared to other abiotic stresses, the negative effects of heat stress on grape production are largely unexplored. In the past three years, the Castellarin Lab began researching the influence of temperature and heatwave events on grapevine physiology and grape quality. Their continued research in this area aims to predict the susceptibility to heatwaves of cultivars grown in BC, and to elucidate whether varying irrigation levels and using bio-stimulants and anti-transpirants can mitigate heat stresses in BC vineyards.