Spring is a lovely time of the year but it can also be a nail-biter for wine growers in northern wine regions. No one wants to be hit by frost in April or May, destroying the new buds.As it unfortunately happened in many places earlier this spring.
There are various ways to protect the vines even if, as with hail protection, no way is completely reliable. In Montlouis-sur-Loire tests have recently been made by using a helicopter. It works exactly like a wind machine with a propeller, i.e. it mixes warmer air with the cold air down on the ground. A helicopter is supposedly as effective as ten propellers and with the same sound volume and the same energy consumption. Montlouis-sur-Loire makes, just like its neighbour Vouvray on the other side of the river Loire, magnificent wines from Chenin Blanc. (On helicopters: it is since some years back forbidden to do spraying with them.)
More: mon-viti.com
