Black Frost Hits Vintage

Filed in archive Australian Wines on November 4, 2006

I've been seeing a lot of reports lately about the frost situation in Australia. Not good. Not good at all!

Here's one reported in South Australia from The Australian News:

DEADLY black frosts have caused havoc for grape growers across South Australia's drought-hit southeast region, wiping $100million off the value of their 2007 vintage.
With temperatures at night plummeting to -4C, some grape growers have resorted to flying helicopters across their vineyards in an attempt to protect grapes from the frost and push warm currents of air on to the vines.

Major grape-growing areas affected include Coonawarra, Padthaway and Wrattonbully, with each hit hard by dry cold winds and deadly black frosts.

The setback for the industry comes as its peak lobby organisations and research groups today begin a campaign for an increase in federal and private sector funding focused on research and development.

Limestone Coast Wine Industry Council chairman Ian Ward said damage estimates were about $100 million after a bleak October.

"A lot of growers have been wiped out 100 per cent and they just have no income," said Mr Ward, who expects many to apply for exceptional circumstances funding.

The vines already had small bunches of fruit on them but most had been burnt off.

Mr Ward said there were hopes of regrowth on some vines.