Wildfires damage British Columbia wine industry during harvest season

Wildfires forced wineries in British Columbia to close during their busiest tourist season this year. The closures caused serious money problems for vineyard owners in the Okanagan Valley. More than C$300,000 worth of fruit spoiled because workers could not harvest it in time. Mike Stohler runs a winery in Summerland with his wife, and his business has suffered badly. The situation is especially difficult because the region has already had climate problems in recent years. A frost damaged vineyards across the valley in 2023, and a freeze event hit again in 2024. Many winery owners now face financial pressure from several difficult seasons in a row. The Okanagan Valley produces some of Canada's most well-known wines, so these losses affect the whole industry.