Winter vine protection

Vineyards across the County are in the process of being covered up to protect the vines for the winter ahead (as temperatures here can drop into the -30C range during the winter which would kill any vitis vinifera vines). See our last post for how the vines are tied down before being covered.

Vines are either being covered with the soils from between the vineyard rows, or with geotextile fabric which will utilize ground warmth to keep the vines safe through the winter. Burying with soil is the traditional method utilized since the first days of vitis vinifera plantings in the County. Geotextiles are relatively new (over the last 5-6 years). It’s probably about an even split in the County now between the two methods.

Burying the vines in soil is incredibly labour intensive (particularly in spring to unbury the vines) and comes with risks. There is an increased risk of disease entering cracks and trunk wounds. The timing of when to unearth the vines is crucial. Earlier increases the risk of frost damage, later risks bud rot from moist soils (and a shortened growing season). And then there is the constant tilling of the soils in spring and fall - both of which are degenerative to the soils. But there are a wealth of proprietors and vineyard workers that know how to do this after 25+ years, and thus it is considered the tried and true method.

Geotextiles are expensive, and must be rolled up and stored through the summer months (more expense). The blankets can be put over and removed from the vines in a fraction of the time of vine burying. And the results from the first few vintages of their use in the County are promising. Vines appear to be healthier, can be trained higher above the ground, and the blankets can be raised earlier in the spring and kept at the ready for frost coverage (thus increasing the growing season). They can be a haven for rodents and other animals seeking winter shelter, and that risks vine and bud damage (and thus some kind of extermination approach is generally required). Expectation is that geotextile blankets can only be used for 8-10 years and then require replacement (more expense). But they are allowing for more organic and sustainable agricultural practices in the County because constant tilling is not required, and other perennial plantings between the vine rows can be retained until the next season.

So nothing is optimal and maybe the best approach for vine protection here is still to be found. But for now this is how it’s being done here.

Below are the freshly buried vines at Stanners Vineyard, and geotextile being laid down over the vines at Redtail Vineyards.