After frost in Upper Austria

Winegrowers get away with a “dark blue eye”

Agriculture Councillor Michaela Langer-Weninger takes a look at the situation in the vineyards.

(Bild: TINA GERSTMAIR)

Trembling and trepidation were the order of the day for Upper Austria's winegrowers last week. The sub-zero temperatures on some nights were hard on the vines. Now that it is warmer again, the local winegrowers are taking stock. And despite some irreparable damage, they are cautiously hopeful.

When you think of wine, you probably think of Burgenland, Styria or Lower Austria. In these federal states, dozens of vineyards have recently been burning so-called frost fires to protect the vines from the frost. But even in Upper Austria, the cold of the past week has caused sleepless nights for winegrowers. Almost 40 winegrowers here cultivate wine on more than 100 hectares of vineyards.

It could be a tough year for many of them, as they fear for their harvest: "After warm weather and days of almost 30 degrees, the vines have long since sprouted. However, the fresh green shoot tips were put to the test by the frost," says Michaela Langer Weninger (ÖVP), Member of the Provincial Council for Agriculture.

Now it's time to worry. In large parts of Upper Austria we have got off lightly so far. Unfortunately, we already know of a very high loss in Naarn.

Leo Gmeiner, oö. Weinbau-Präsident

Total failures in the Mühlviertel
But the worst seems to be over: After the last night of frost so far from Thursday to Friday, the tenor of the winegrowers is: "We got away with a dark blue eye." Some wineries, for example in Naarn and Haselgraben, have indeed suffered total losses. Other winegrowers have also reported damage, but are cautiously optimistic that the vines, especially the shoots, will largely recover.

The coming weeks are crucial
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how the "offended" young shoots of the vines will develop in the coming days with the forecast of 25 to 28 degrees. "Now we have to wait and see. In large parts of Upper Austria, we have got off lightly so far," says Viticulture President Leo Gmeiner. A final assessment of the damage will only be possible in two to three weeks.