When the vine has been affected by hail, 4 or 5 days are necessary, without doing anything, (even it is difficult for the winegrower…), to see and understand how the vine will react. Like a person, « she » is injured and curled up therafter, small attempts of re-start appear, as if the vine would say  » shall I go or shall I stay ? »

We had big hopes for the next harvest, grapes were beautiful. It will be certainly a less important harvest as previous.

Even if they know that nothing can be taken for granted, even if they are insured against a number of climate risks, the winegrowers deeply feel theses moments, and emotion takes a lot of time to disappear. The work of a whole year is wiped before their eyes in a single instant without any possibility to protect of prevent.

Diffusers army against hail

As soon as the alert has been transmitted at noon by weather forecast office, the 250 silver iode diffusers have been switched on . In fact, the alert must be issued at the same time, 6 hours before the arrival of the hail, to be efficient. The diffuser located in an area is efficient for an area located 10 kms farther, and so on…

The ignition of the nozzle in the metallic pipe fired up to sky particles of silver iodide which are be sucked in the clouds. The reaction allows to decrease the size of the hailstones and so reduce the damages. However, it has not be sufficent as this huge hail storm was strong, but may-be losses will be less important than without diffusers.

L’article Huge hail for summer day est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

7′ in a season

A day who remains in the memory, May 27th 2017 : a short-term hail storm suddenly crossing the area, without any alert before, and 7′ later, 10 % of the vineyards have been injured for more of 80 %. I was in vineyards with a friend of mine who was planting new vines. It was really hot for the season, the sky was blue without any cloud. Suddenly an huge grey line appears coming from south-west very quickly and quite few minutes later, hailstone like golf balls felt on our heads. It was terrific of noise and fury.

Even if they know that nothing can be taken for granted , even in they are insured against a number of climate risks, the winegrowers deeply feel theses moments, and emotion takes a lot of time to disappear.  Many of them speak of their vines as a human being, or one of their children. « she has a cold »after a strong night-frost , « she smiles » when the  buds and leaves recover new energy, the alert far away…

« Hail and frost are in any case traumatic period » tells Nicolas.  » The work of a whole year is wiped before our eyes in a single instant without any possibility to protect or prevent ».

Then comes the time of findings and doubts :  what the vine will do ? how it feels ? and what’s about the next year ? which consequences ? And as an evidence, no harvest for this year : an happy moment which will not happen, and an other period difficult to live.

« We are enthusiasts, we do love our vineyards »  

By hearing Nicolas, it’s just like an obvious fact.  When the vine has been affected by hail, we must wait 4/5 days, without do anything even if it’s difficult, and  try to understand how « she » will react . Like a person, « she » is injured, she « curls up », thereafter,  small attempts of re-start appear, as if the vine  would say   » Shall I go or shall I stay ? » 

Damage visible one year later

As all his colleagues, Nicolas admits the discreet temper of the winegrowers.  » We don’t have the right words to speak of theses moments, but more than the financial consequence of hail, the more difficult to live for us, is to walk in the rows and see our injured vineyards. It’s often very emotional and even if we are tough guys, some of us can have tears on the eyes ». 

Spotters army

180 silver iodide diffusers  are  spread throughtout the cognac vineyards. 4 volunteers  are in charge on one diffuser. As soon as the alert is activited, the main referent, receives it on his smartphone, acknowledges the messsage and starts the diffuser. If he doesn’t answer, the alert switchs to the second person, and so on… To be efficient, the alert must be issued 6 hours before the arrival of the hail and all the  diffusers must be started at the same time. The diffuser located in an area is efficient for an area located about 10 kms farther.

A very simple system to set up : the ignition of the nozzle in the metallic pipe fired up to the sky particles of silver iodide which are be sucked in the clouds. The reaction allows to  decrease the size of the hailstones and so reduce consequently the damages.

Great thanks to Nicolas for his contribution  and disponibility on this specific subject.

L’article Hail, frost, the vine and the winegrower est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.