Touraine winegrowers buy anti-freeze towers to protect their vines

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No more being surprised by the frost! After yet another loss of production in 2021, many Touraine winegrowers have bought anti-freeze towers to protect their grapes from the vagaries of the weather, due to global warming. This machine, made up of a large propeller fixed at the top of a mast, projects hot air over two to four hectares around it.

Spring frosts have been intensifying for ten years

Thierry Mosny is a winegrower in Saint-Martin-le-Beau since the 90s. But it is only for ten years that he has seen his vines freeze regularly. “The first big frost was in 2016. Then there were also 2017, 2019…” he lists. “And of course last year, in 2021. I lost 60% of my production that year.”

The antifreeze towers are mobile and placed in the middle of the fields. They warm up to 4 hectares of vines around them. Here, a tower (not unfolded) in Montlouis-sur-Loire. © Radio France
– Solene Gardre

He therefore bought an antifreeze tower, received last December. “Before, we heated the grapes with techniques such as straw fires. But today, when we realize that there is equipment to better protect ourselves, it is obvious to invest.” In 2022 it will therefore be the first spring of its tower. “Even if I hope not to have to use it, of course”he smiles.

Buying an antifreeze tower, we must not hide it: it’s an investment, it’s extra work… But we have no choice.” – Thierry Mosny, winemaker in Saint-Martin-le-Beau.

Some winegrowers buy a tower in common

A tower can cost up to 45,000 euros. Fortunately, Thierry Mosny received a grant: 40% of its tower was supported by AgriMer. To cushion the price, other winegrowers decided to buy together. This is the case of the cooperative of Montlouis-sur-Loirewho in four years bought nine towers for around 200 hectares of vines.

François Chidaine, winegrower in Montlouis-sur-Loire, is testing one of the new towers purchased jointly by the Montlouis winegrowers' cooperative.
François Chidaine, winegrower in Montlouis-sur-Loire, is testing one of the new towers purchased jointly by the Montlouis winegrowers’ cooperative. © Radio France
– Solene Gardre

“It allows us to pool these tools”Explain Francois Chidaineone of the Montlouis winegrowers. “There are places where the plots touch each other, so we put the towers in strategic locations so that they cover several plots.”

François Chidaine remains cautious. This tool is practical, but not miraculous. “In 2016 during the frost, we had very strong winds and the towers were less efficient than we could imagine”he recalls. “We will feel really quiet after April!”


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