US: Icy Weather Engulfs Western Wine Regions

(Wines&Vines) - With low temperatures reaching the mid-teens to single digits across most of the western United States, growers are monitoring their vineyards for any signs of cold damage.

Across Washington, Oregon and in parts of Northern California, clear skies and little precipitation along with a persistent influx of cold, Arctic air have sent temperatures plummeting. According to the weather forecasting service AccuWeather, Dundee, Ore., saw a low of 9° F on Sunday, with similar lows in other parts of the state.

In Walla Walla, Wash., the weekend lows reached 3° F. Across much of California, temperatures hit the low teens or single digits.

Temperatures are forecast to rise back to normal levels this week, but in Washington growers are still monitoring the situation.

Jason Schlagel is the director of viticulture for Milbrandt Vineyards in Matawa, Wash. He said that temperatures reached a low of 1° F on Sunday. “We are probably still free of bud damage, but my staff will be taking some cuttings to evaluate buds as a precaution.”

When Schlagel was speaking to Wines & Vines at around 11 a.m. Monday, he noted the temperature had only reached 18° F. He said he’s been checking temperatures and vines regularly as conditions have remained frigid. The last time he recalled Washington experiencing a prolonged stretch of such cold weather was in 2010. “We get weather like this every five to three years,” he said.