El Nino increases chance of frost for Victoria’s vignerons

IT’S going to be a long October for Victoria’s vignerons, who face an increased chance of frost because of El Nino.

Frost sprinklers in action at Rutherglen. Image: ANN KILLEEN

IT’S going to be a long October for vignerons, who face an increased chance of frost because of El Nino.

Chris Pfeiffer, of Pfeiffer Wines in Rutherglen, said the threat of late frosts was always a concern.

“We’re always glad when October is over,” Mr Pfeiffer said.

“The last really bad one was in 1996 when we got to -7C on October 30.

“It’s etched in my memory — it cost me the bulk of my crop.”

Mr Pfeiffer turned his sprinklers on in chardonnay and frontignac vines to prevent damage last Thursday morning, when temperatures got down to -2C.

“You do what you can (to alleviate the risk),” he said.

“At -7C or -8C the sprinklers aren’t going to help much, but they seem to get us through when it’s around -1C or -2C.”

Frost alerts for large swathes of Victoria have been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology over the past week and with low overnight temperatures forecast again over the next seven days, more warnings are possible.

Senior forecaster Rod Dickson said there was a higher risk of frost this year because of the El Nino pattern developing in the Pacific Ocean, but record sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean could offset that.

“That signal is not as strong over Victoria so there is still a chance of some late-season frosts given the pattern in the Pacific Ocean,” Mr Dickson said.

Victorian Government agronomist Dale Grey said minimum temperatures would be critical for grain growers over the next 20 days.

“So far the duration of frost has been short but the next three weeks are the greatest danger period while wheat is flowering,” Mr Grey said.