Buds and Frost

Touring clients through the County on Tuesday of this week, buds and flowers are out on the vines, apple trees are blossoming, and lilacs are in full bloom. Sadly we have also had a nasty cold snap and temperatures approached frost levels overnight into Wednesday and last night we had a full on hit of frost. Two sleepless long nights across the County for everyone in the vineyards. The wind machines were all going overnight (where vineyards have them), discarded dead cane fires burning, and everything else that could be done happening to keep frost from damaging the vines. Wind machines look like giant fans, and keep the air circulating through the vineyards, and keep the frost from collecting on the buds and vines. Some vineyards that utilized geotextiles through the winter will have rolled them out again last night and covered the vines for the night to whatever degree that they could.

This is such a crucial time for the vines, and frost damage to the buds can be devastating. Everyone is reminded of 2015 when entire vintages were lost at many vineyards due to frost at almost an identical date (May long weekend). We’ll all hope that the damage is minor. Vineyard managers and winemakers will all be assessing the damage from last night’s frost over the next couple of days.

Buds on the vines @Closson Chase Churchside vineyard - May 16, 2023

Narrow rows @Stanners Vineyards with buds on vines and wind machine visible beside the barn - May 16, 2023