S. Australian vintage hit by black frost
(Source: www.bbr.com )
Disastrous black frosts and ferocious cold winds have caused mayhem for grape growers across South Australia's drought-hit southeast region, wiping millions off the value of their 2007 vintage.
Coonawarra, Padthaway and Wrattonbully are amongst the worst hit areas. Limestone Coast Wine Industry chairman Ian Ward estimates damage to about £200 million.
With temperatures at night plummeting to -4C, some grape growers have resorted to the very costly practice of flying helicopters across their vineyards in an attempt to protect grapes from the frost and push warm currents of air on to the vines. The vines already had small bunches of fruit on them but most had been burnt off. "We are still likely to get frosts for another month and there are vines which are already going into dormancy again. There are hopes for re-growth on some vines." he said.
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