There was another frost warning for wineries in Northern and Central Virginia last night. Doug Fabbioli, of Fabbioli Cellars, posted that he was going to start anti-frost measures around 3:00AM. Foolishly, I asked if I could join him and he agreed.
When I got into the car at 2:45AM it was 36 degrees Fahrenheit, at the upper end of frost worries, but by the time I got out to the vineyard it was 32 degrees.
The first thing I noticed was the tarps covering the deer fence, protecting the vineyard from the wind. I stepped out of the car and immediately felt the crunch of frozen grass under my foot and heard the whirring of the anti-frost machine echoing throughout the vineyard.
The machine itself is an inverted funnel lifted about feet off the ground and situated in the middle of an open part of the vineyard. The machine is basically a large fan that sucks the cold air from the ground and allows it to circulate preventing it from settling on the vines.
Many thanks to Doug for giving me the opportunity to watch this process in action.
2 comments:
It got pretty darn cold last night. the buds were still pretty closed so we were not as vulnerable as we will be as the weeks go on. the tarp are strung up to keep the cold air from "backfilling" the vineyard while we pump the cold air up and out. the warmer air from above then can flow into our low areas. Not a lot of warm air in our little valley. We will tighten up our system and be ready for another dance with Mother Nature.
Thanks for the additional explanation Doug!
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