With our unpredictable Canadian spring weather, timing is key. Because we bury our vines, we’re not worried about frost, but once the soil warms, the vines may start to grow underground. This is undesirable, so we want to unbury the vines at the just the right moment: after the last freeze, but early enough that we still get a great growing season.
How do we know when that is?
We don’t. Not for sure. Last year we did get a flash freeze in late spring, and we did experience some damage to our crop. However, we’ve installed a frost fan, which covers 5 acres, and pulls down warm air and pushes away any settling cold air near the vines. Once we unearth the vines, they are still protected by the fan, though the fan only raises the temperature by 2°, so there’s no defense against really cold weather.
It’s always a risky balance between too early and just right. At Adamo Estate Winery, we rely on experience, instinct and historical data (with input from Mother Nature, of course) to determine when the time is right.
Looking for more information about the vineyard and winery? Please visit our website here: https://adamoestate.com/