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Winegrowers placed out hundreds of anti-frost heaters hoping to save crops amid sub-zero temperatures, Thursday, Chablis.
Large-sized cans of burning paraffin were placed next to the vines to keep the frost from destroying the vines.
However, the high cost of heaters prevented the winegrowers from placing candles along all of the crops and only certain grapes were protected from the frost.
“Generally, given the cost, we only protect the Grand Cru and the Premier Cru,” said winegrower Paul-Etienne Defaix.
The heaters were lit at night and put out by sunrise.
All areas of Burgundy, as well as almost every other wine region in France, have been hit by low temperatures of up to -7 Celsius in some areas.
SOT, Paul-Etienne Defaix Defaix, Winegrower (French): “The caps are removed from each candle. We have what we call a lighter. In the paraffin candle we have a cardboard which is used to light it and the mixture in it with the flame is used to set the cardboard ablaze. The cardboard ignites the paraffin, which allows the vines to heat up.”
SOT, Paul-Etienne Defaix, Winegrower (French): “Generally, given the cost, we only protect the ‘Grand Cru’ and the ‘Premier Cru’. We do it also for the perennity of the vine. The vine is like everyone else, it does not like to catch cold, so it can weaken. We have had hard times for a few years now, like now, four out of five years, so we can end up with a loss of…how to say…of the power of the vine.”
SOT, Paul-Etienne Defaix, Winegrower (French): “For example, a plot of 15 acres like this one, we have about one hour of preparation, with three people. Then we have the staff to light the night, then in the morning we have staff to put out the candles. To turn them off, all you have to do is put the hood back on them and it ‘suffocates.’ Then we have staff to change them.”
#France #winegrowers #vines
Video ID: 20210416-068
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