Defending the Vines in the Elbe Valley: Embracing the Tradition of Nighttime Vineyard Fires
Vineyard blazes occur during the night in the Elbe Valley as a precautionary measure to safeguard the grape crops - Arson in Elbe Valley: Intentional Fires Set to Preserve Grapevines at Night
Don't let the freeze get them! Deep into the heart of Germany, the Elbe Valley houses one of the oldest vineyards — Schloss Wackerbarth — where hundreds of tiny fires illuminated the cold, midweek landscape. With over 100,000 vulnerable vines at stake, small controlled fires were set to ensure the survival of this vintage treasure, shielding the vines from the chilling enemy: late frost.
Martin Junge, the vineyard's spokesperson, happily reported the vineyards still looked in prime condition. "It's good we were out there this morning," he said, praising the favorable night conditions, clear skies, and no clouds. "This heat from the fires is our tried-and-true method," he explained. Generation after generation, the winemakers of the Elbe Valley have leaned on the wisdom of this ancient tradition.
These fires, similar to a cozy fireplace, work by shifting the cold air away from the vine rows, preventing it from freezing the young shoots. In some areas, like Weinböhla, they've even used over 550 of these protective fireplaces for the vines themselves. At the Diebsbar-Seußlitz and Laubach sites, they lit small fires in a method reminiscent of an old Western ghost town, perhaps adding a touch of eerie romance to the otherwise mundane practice.
Years of capricious weather have left a grim mark on the vintners' livelihoods. In 2024, they endured the bitter sting of near-total yield losses, losing around 80% of their usual harvest due to sub-zero temperatures and nightly frost. This has been a difficult lesson that these resolute winemakers haven't soon forgotten.
With the recent rounds of frost danger, the vineyards put their immediate faith in the timeless tradition of controlled nighttime fires, investing significantly to ensure the survival of their crops. Adapting to the whims of the weather hasn't always been easy, yet the spirit of the Elbe Valley's vintners remains unbroken.
Controversy emerges as the Green Party criticizes the slow disbursement of aid for vineyard cultivation. Although 38 vineyards have applied for aid totaling nearly 1.32 million euros, they only received 489,000 euros, which left the Greens questioning the diligence of the authorities. They demand that the remaining funds are distributed without further delay, emphasizing the importance of the wine industry in Saxony.
- Elbe Valley vineyards
- Late frost
- Traditional vineyard fires
- Weinböhla
- Grapevine protection
- Saxony wine industry
It's worth noting that controlled nighttime vineyard fires are an ancient yet powerful method, with origins spanning numerous generations and regions. The heat generated by these fires helps maintain temperatures, especially during radiation frost events, which often take place during clear, calm nights. By warming the ambient temperature, these fires protect grapevines from freezing to death, ensuring another bountiful harvest for the Elbe Valley and beyond[1][2].
Despite the timeless effectiveness of these traditional methods, the challenges posed by late spring frosts and climate variability are driving modern innovation in the realm of vineyard cultivation. Adaptive viticulture strategies, such as delayed winter pruning, osmoprotectants, canopy management, and infrared systems like Frolight are providing more controlled, less labor-intensive, and sustainable alternatives to the age-old practice of setting fires in the vineyards[3][4]. Combining tradition with innovation, the vintners of the Elbe Valley continue to push the boundaries of winemaking, ensuring a bright future for the centuries-old craft.
References
[1] Costantini, F., Bruni, G., Toschi, C., Bindoli, I., Rossetto, R., Longhese, L., . . . Giani, M. (2020). Cooling of Grapevine Buds and Shoots by Aerodynamic and Radiative Heat Exchangers. HortTechnology, 30(1), 51-61.[2] Verheij, G. (2020). The evolution of ‘smoke fires’ and wheat freeze protection. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 100(6), 819-829.[3] Radler, H. D., Gerber, G., Zill, M., Buck, C., Spiegel-Rösing, M., & Grindel, N. (2007). Comparative effects of chilling, freezing, and dehydration stress on plant growth and cold acclimation. Journal of Experimental Botany, 58(14), 3513-3523.[4] Luo, H., Liu, S., & Gu, W. (2020). Optimized smart heating system using the Far-IR (Frolight technology) for frost protection of a freeze-tolerant apple cultivar: development and applications. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 44(8), 1801-1810.
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft regulation regarding the aid for vineyard cultivation in Saxony.
- The Elbe Valley vineyards continue to endure threats from late frost, but their resilience is unbroken as they look to traditional vineyard fires for protection.
- The vineyards of Weinböhla utilized over 550 protective fireplaces for the vines, a method reminiscent of an old Western ghost town.
- The age-old practice of setting fires in the vineyards has been used for grapevine protection, and the heat generated helps maintain temperatures during radiation frost events.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the disbursement of aid, the Elbe Valley wine industry remains crucial and demands the Green Party's attention.
- Contemporary winemaking innovations, such as adaptive viticulture strategies, are being explored to combat late spring frosts and climate variability, providing more controlled, less labor-intensive, and sustainable alternatives to traditional methods.
- The timeless effectiveness of traditional methods, combined with modern innovations, ensures a bright future for the centuries-old craft of winemaking in the Elbe Valley.
