Winemaking is a risky business. Jason
Mabbett examines the odds on this year´s danger -
frost
Las
Vegas is usually associated with slot machines, Elvis-themed weddings
and white tigers who hate magicians. If however, we were to wind
back the clock some 60 or 70 odd years we would find that Las
Vegas was very similar to its Mendocino namesake nowadays –
desert and well, not much else. Las Vegas, Mendoza is located
in the department of Las Heras, close to Potrerillos. Its main
claim to fame is a beautiful nursery that because of the weather
and its location is only open during the warmer parts of the year.
But all is not well in Las Vegas. Mention Mother Nature´s
name and no drug-induced psychotic behaviour becomes apparent,
but real fear and loathing.
“Leaving Las Vegas”
Mendoza has had an unusually warm winter and as
a result agricultural producers are worried. Plants, trees and
vines have left their state of dormancy and have begun their lifecycle
anew (just take a look at the budding trees in Mendoza City).
This however, is earlier than normal and as a result growers are
worried by the potential for a cold snap which would bring frost
(a recent cold spell in parts of General Alvear destroyed 90%
of this years plum crop). Frost damage is a big headache in the
wine industry as it can affect not just the current crop but the
following one too.
In vineyards frost damage occurs when the plant sap cools and
begins to crystalise. Once the rapid cooling begins, the flow
of water in the plant stops and cell walls begin to burst from
the expanding freezing sap. The result is a brown withered leaf
and a plant struggling to revive.
“a snap of frost will
have disastrous consequences”
Agronomists use different measures to minimse frost
damage. These include spraying water over the plants, heating
the air surrounding the plants or using fans to raise the temperature
around the vines (winemakers in Marlborough, New Zealand use helicopters
to create this effect). Pre-emptive viticultural practices such
as keeping the grass cut low to help airflow and stimulating the
root zone with compost can further beat back the deadly effects
of frost.
Mendoza does have one ace up its sleeve in that it is fortunate
that frost only occurs in Spring. Some countries have to grapple
with the problem in Autumn too. Nevertheless, a snap of frost
before the 4th of November (a historical cut off point for frost
in Mendoza) will have disastrous consequences for growers in Mendoza.
And that is even before we consider hailstorms which, on average,
destroy 15% of the grapes in Mendoza every year. In short, if
I was a betting man I`d be betting that Jack Frost might take
a few growers to the cleaners this year. The cards are about to
be dealt and it just remains to be seen whether Mother Nature
or the growers have the better hand.
Las
Vegas is usually associated with slot machines, Elvis-themed weddings
and white tigers who hate magicians. If however, we were to wind
back the clock some 60 or 70 odd years we would find that Las
Vegas was very similar to its Mendocino namesake nowadays –
desert and well, not much else. Las Vegas, Mendoza is located
in the department of Las Heras, close to Potrerillos. Its main
claim to fame is a beautiful nursery that because of the weather
and its location is only open during the warmer parts of the year.
But all is not well in Las Vegas. Mention Mother Nature´s
name and no drug-induced psychotic behaviour becomes apparent,
but real fear and loathing.
