Pruning is all done except for a few touch-ups and now we can have something else to worry about – frost. Enrique is checking our wind machines which are scattered about the vineyard. They are all located in the lowest part of each field. The plan is to throw up the cold air that collects in these spots by using large horizontal fans.
The air which is thrown up 50 to 60 feet creates air currents which in turn bring the warmer air from above down to the vines. Our experience last year is that it works, unless, the temperature goes substantially below freezing.
Enrique has the further pleasure of getting up in the middle of the night, when his temperature alarm goes off, and starting each wind machine. Each fan has a gas driven motor which can run for 12 hours, so if you start them at midnight they will run well into the day when the temperature warms up.
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