A late winter cold snap has caused Central Otago wine makers to be on edge as frosts are expected to blanket Central Otago in the coming days.
Viticulturist James Dicey says all it takes is 30 minutes of minus one degree weather for a whole crop to be damaged.
"I think its going to actually be colder tomorrow night than it is tonight. There is still a lot of the snow on the hills around us," Mr Dicey told 1 NEWS.
More than 20 choppers are currently being used across the South Island including wind makers to soak up the excess frost.
Mr Dicey said the noise at night of the machines running resembles Vietnam, however residents are aware when they move to the region that this could be the case.
"It’s long nights... it's tough motivating staff having to get out of bed," Mr Dicey said.
It's an expensive operation and in the past has cost him over $25,000 just to protect one winery. Choppers and wind machines are additional.
"We have got to do it, we don't really have a choice, we have chosen to grow grapes on the edge and this is the price we pay."
The spring storm closed schools and cut off roads on the West Coast. (Source: Other)
Last night wineries were fortunate the forecast frost didn’t hit, but are bracing themselves for cooler nights ahead.
TVNZ weather presenter Dan Corbett says there won't be a let up in frosts for a few days yet.
"We're looking at potentially three nights for frosts so you can imagine growers will be going "eurgh' watching their fruits, their grapes whatever it might be to take precautions," he said.
The late winter blast signalling that spring could yet be a roller coaster for the south.
- By Jordan Oppert
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