Wairarapa Vineyards Chill Out

Filed in archive Vineyards on September 20, 2006

As a native Floridian, I am well aware of the damage a frost can have on agriculture. Our big industry is still oranges, though of course, it's not as big as it used to be, be we have a lot of other crops that can be harmed by frosts. There are a few methods for keeping the frost from settling on plants. You can keep hot pots scattered around to help keep the air around them warm. You can cover them, or you can go the high tech way now and use Helicopters to fly over the plants and keep the air circulating.

Wairarapa vineyards in New Zealand is trying this method right now. They are reporting early frosts warning, so wine makers are obviously concerned about their vineyards. From Vineyards brace for the big chill:

Alana Estate chief executive Lindsay Cunningham said the -2 degree temperatures last week had forced all grape growers into protection mode.

"It has definitely looked like a war zone at times but there is so much at stake," he said.

"The costs of frost fighting are significant, but not compared to the huge implications if the vines were destroyed."

With several million dollars worth of fruit at stake, paying up to $2000 an hour for a helicopter was an expense that had to be shouldered, he said.

One night's worth of frost fighting could cost $10,000.

The frosts, which do not usually strike till October, have hit earlier than expected and could last till mid-November.

The crippling frosts of 2002 still weighed heavily on the minds of grape growers, Mr Cunningham said.