Monday morning temperatures in the FLX were projected to be below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and we were concerned about the vines at Wiemer Vineyard. There is a risk that with such extreme cold the vines may shut down. A plan was devised to light controlled fires throughout our 3 vineyard sites, surrounding the vines with warm pockets of air that would hopefully move through the vineyards with the winds. Over the weekend, piles of wood pallets were arranged strategically around the perimeter of the vineyards, keeping the direction of the winds in mind. Early Monday morning we gathered to light the fires. Temperatures along the west side of Seneca lake were ranging from -2 to -8. The coldest temperatures were expected between 6 and 7am. At 4:30am we began lighting the fires using small fire starters and a bit of newspaper and then dousing the piles with diesel fuel to really get them going. As we worked around the vineyard, you could feel the heat.
We finished lighting the fires by 6am. The coldest temperatures were actually at about 7:30am that morning. Hopefully, our efforts raised the average temperature of the vineyards by a degree or two, enough to reach that unknown threshold by which vines can sustain extreme cold. We won't know until the spring when the plants begin to bud and flower.
Photos taken by our in-house photographer.
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