This week's weather forecast for upstate New York has many in the Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley wine industries nervous. If the forecast is accurate, temperatures will be dipping down below zero (as low as -10 F) which could be devastating for vineyards.
If the mercury does dip below zero, it will be the coldest weather the region has had in five years. And five years ago, several vineyards had to deal with winter kill, including John Zuccarino of Silver Springs Winery who told me in an email that "This could be a replay of when I lost 10,000 vines."
The snow that is already on the ground in the region is one cause for hope -- it provides a certain amount of insulation.
Evan will be writing a follow-up story on this after the weather has moved through. Keep an eye out for it and let's hope the vines make it.
virginia vinters are concerned about the same. it won't be getting as cold as the finger lakes but still cold. more worried on affect of current crop vs. vine loss that sub zero temps will cause. Woodland Vineyards vines should be fine though
Posted by: john witherspoon | January 13, 2009 at 12:02 PM
I would think that the Hudson Valley is going to be slightly better off, purely because of the varietals planted. We have lots of Labrusca and French Hybrids, which are generally more cold hardy than the pure European varietals. And I seem to remember it getting about -10 last winter (at least at my site) and everyone was OK. Its the -15 zone that real damage starts being done. I hope everyone makes it through all right.
Posted by: Rowland | January 13, 2009 at 12:36 PM
"This could be a replay of when I lost 10,000 vines."
Sounds like someone took a chance and did not hill up to me. Don't blame the weather for poor viticultural practices.
The Hudson Valley typically has lower winter minimums than the Finger Lakes in these types of events. That's probably the main reason why vinifera has not been very successful in the region. It's been progressively colder over the past two weeks which helps cold hardiness. Those with good management practices will probably make it through without a disaster.
Posted by: John Sperr | January 13, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Lake Ontario saves the day again...hopefully.
Posted by: Bryan | January 13, 2009 at 02:24 PM
John Zuccarino lost 10,000 "vines" because he doesn't take care of them. He shouldn't blame it on the weather when the vines don't reach the catch wire by the third year.
Posted by: Mike McCarthy | January 13, 2009 at 04:45 PM
John Sperr, I know what you mean by "hill up," but what EXACTLY do you mean? Everyone has their own opinion, from bending the whole vine over and burying it, to soil, to compost, to just leaves or woodchips, one guy said to just mound up the snow. So what exactly do you do when you hill up your vineyard? Also any other vineyard owners, please put your 2c in, lets have a tally of hilling up methods and see how we fare this spring (of course taking into account AVA, maturity, and varietal).
Posted by: Rowland | January 14, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Hey, at least someone isn't taking the open communication opportunities provided by an information-sharing blog to put down others while trying to inflate one's own sense of superiority.
Oh, wait...
BTW, it's cold outside today. Brrrr.
Posted by: Jason Feulner | January 14, 2009 at 04:46 PM
At least someone isn't taking the information sharing opportunities provided by an open communication blog to put down others while trying to inflate one's own sense of superiority.
BTW, it's cold outside today. Brrrrr.
Posted by: Jason Feulner | January 14, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Hudson Valley growers are worried. While there is snow on the ground for insulation, it will hurt the shoots. While the hybrids that are planted most likely will fair better, it's the Vinifera that will take the deep freeze the hardest.
Posted by: Debbie Gioquindo | January 15, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Rowland --
"Hill up" to me means mounding soil 6 - 8 inches deep around the graft at the base of the vine. Soil is plowed from the center of the row under the trellis and allowed to settle around the trunks of the vines. In the spring you must remove it to prevent scion rooting.
I think it is best done with soil. The other materials you mention are poor conductors of ground heat and have additional drawbacks as I see them: Snow is neither dependable or durable. Mulch and compost may attract rodents. Wood chips get moldy and do not compact and settle well.
That's my short take on it.
Posted by: John Sperr | January 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM