Page 46 - Grapevine SeptOct 2021

Around The VineyardThe Vineyard
Around

“Maintenance and training are non-factors in ipated in frost protection trials, using a common
choosing our systems for your vineyard,” said backyard tactic for protecting tender vegetation.
Ballantyne Jr. “We recommend that our units get Monitored by the National Institute for origin and
an annual power washing, and the training involves quality, grapevines were wrapped in a P30 type
understanding your vineyard’s elevation changes winter cover to determine if it protected the vines
and how cooled air will flow and sink with varying in frost conditions. Complete frost protection was
increases in density. With RWI’s systems, you gain reported in the 2020 growing season. In 2021,
a partner in crop protection and enhanced product Mother Nature provided even more opportuni-
quality. If you are a client, we work with you to ties to test the process as recorded temperatures
continuously improve performance and maximize dropped below freezing several times over four
your return on investment. We are proud to offer weeks. Again, the results were very positive, as
the most efficient systems on the market, and our the wraps reduced frost damage significantly.
engineering staff is always available to help ensure Unprotected vines suffered nearly a 90% loss,
the highest return for our clients.” whereas protected vines experienced only a 10%
loss. Another grower used a double layer of fleece
Inside the winery, where humidity is also critical, as their wrap of choice and again showed success,
RWI’s humidification systems aid in controlling the recording up to a four-degree difference in the cov-
barrel aging process, giving winemakers better con- ered vs. uncovered areas.
trol of the quality of their final product. Benefits of
increased control are more effective management However, the Institute warns that although it
of angel share losses, improved barrel loss con- looks promising, more research is needed to under-
ditions, and enhanced quality and consistency of stand the full scope of how wrapping affects the
wine, ultimately leading to better financial perfor- grapevines, not only externally but also within the
mance. vines’ structure, before they issue a recommenda-
tion on the future viability for this type of protec-
Like a Warm Hug: tion on a widespread basis.
Wrapping Vines as Protection from Cold

Can something as simple as wrapping your vines
in a cover protect them from frost? Two estates
in the Anjou-Saumur region of France have partic-

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