Amidst the clamour of the Vancouver International Wine Festival, I had a conversation with Evan Saunders, winemaker for Blasted Church Vineyards, to discuss the last two years vintages; one made with WA state grapes in 2024, and the latest vintage with estate BC grapes.
The 2024 Washington Intervention
Following a 2023 season that already saw significantly diminished yields, 2024 arrived with even more severe winter challenges, leaving the winery’s estate crops in a state of near-total loss. To ensure the continuity of the brand and the engagement of his team, Evan looked south to Washington State. He and I had a glass of his 2024 Sauvignon Blanc with the grapes coming from from the Andrews Family Vineyards located in the Horse Heaven Hills.
He described the area as a severe environment characterized by dramatic diurnal shifts, blistering heat during the day followed by plummeting nocturnal temperatures, and high-velocity winds. These conditions dictated the fruit’s architecture: the vines responded to the stress by producing exceptionally small berries with thick, protective skins. The result was a raw material of immense phenolic concentration and structural intensity.
To create their style of wine from these grapes Evan employed a delicate technical hand. The fruit underwent a brief “cold soak” on the skins to coax out aromatic expression before being pressed and cold-settled on-site. The juice was then racked into totes and transported via temperature-controlled trucks to the Okanagan for fermentation. In the cellar, Evan opted for a “no new oak” protocol, utilizing French oak barrels ranging from one to six years in age. This was a deliberate effort to achieve a “slightly fumé” quality, a subtle rounding of the mouthfeel and a touch of richness that supports the fruit without the heavy-handed mask of new wood. This resourceful sourcing provided a vital bridge to a season that would defy all expectations. When I tried the wine, it had great green fruit aromatics which followed on the palate, medium body, smooth, together with fresh acidity and a little pepperiness.
Navigating the 2025 Bumper Crop
2025 was a bumper crop year for grapes across British Columbia. The season began with the earliest bud break Evan had ever recorded, an event that initially triggered a sense of spring frost worry. However, the frost never materialized; instead, the weather held, giving way to a beautifully balanced season of warm, dry days punctuated by timely rain events that sustained the vines through the heat.
The resulting bumper crop formed a logistical puzzle as there were more grapes than usual plus because different blocks recovered from previous cold damage at varying rates, so the traditional sequence of ripening was upended. Evan and his team had to remain exceptionally agile, managing a harvest that oscillated between moments of intense compression and long, drawn-out stretches of ripening. In some instances, a single block might yield a mere ton per acre while its immediate neighbour produced a full crop, forcing the winemaking team to treat the estate as a mosaic of individual recovery stories.
The 2025 vintage by the numbers tells a story of unexpected abundance: final yields surged 15% to 20% over initial forecasts. Crucially, Evan noted that this volume did not dilute the quality; the fruit maintained the high standards required for the winery’s premium tiers, providing the surplus necessary to reignite the winery’s joyful spirit.
Some Experimentation in Vintage 2025
For the cellar staff at Blasted Church, the abundance of 2025 allowed Evan to experiment a little with their harvested grapes. Some key varietal highlights:
- Sangiovese Grosso: Seizing a late-season opportunity, Evan worked with this variety for the first time. The late-ripening nature of the Grosso clone allowed for a fresh, sophisticated addition to the cellar’s portfolio.
- Estate Gamay: Marking the first red wine harvest from this estate block, he employed a strict “Burgundian method” creating a juicy, fresh, and approachable red. Designed to be served with a slight chill, it is positioned specifically for the fall market, aimed at the traditional Thanksgiving table.
- Nebbiolo: In a milestone for the estate, a small-batch harvest was successfully brought in from the new Nebbiolo block. This precious yield is currently aging in a single 115-liter barrel, representing the winery’s long-term commitment to site-specific exploration.
The Path to 2026 and Beyond
As the industry looks toward 2026, the pervasive sense of survival mode has been replaced by a grounded optimism. The variability that defined the rebound years is subsiding, and the vineyards are returning to a predictable, linear progression. Environmental indicators are currently favourable; while the valley floor remains dry, significant snowpack has accumulated in the mountains over the past several days, promising a much-needed reservoir of moisture for the coming spring.
The broader implications for the Okanagan wine economy are profound. After a few years of precarious inventory, the region’s cellars are finally full, and the quality of the 2025 vintage is consistently high across the valley. This stability is the essential engine for the return of wine tourism. Evan’s final sentiment was one of open invitation: with a favourable winter behind them and the tasting rooms fully stocked, the Okanagan is prepared for a pivotal spring and summer season. Some come visit the Blasted Church Vineyards this summer and the other wineries as well.
Thanks to Evan for spending time with me during the Festival to do this interview.
