Freeze devastates North Jersey vineyard crop
Warm weather followed by a sudden freeze destroys early grape buds, raising concerns about future wine supply.
After a stretch of unseasonably warm weather followed by a hard freeze, a North Jersey vineyard says nearly all of its budding grapevines have been wiped out—potentially impacting wine production in the years ahead.
At Brook Hollow Winery in Knowlton Township near Columbia, the growing season was just getting underway. But rows of vines that would normally be filled with early spring buds are now bare after temperatures suddenly dropped.
Owner Paul Ritter says last week’s warm weather pushed the vines into an early bloom, making them especially vulnerable when freezing temperatures hit.
“Earlier this week those buds were about an inch to two inches long, and inside that cluster should be a bright green grape flower,” Ritter explained. “When you get a frost, sometimes it just kills the leaves around it—but when you get a freeze, it kills right to the center, so you lose everything.”
Ritter says he was alerted as temperatures dropped but knew there was little he could do.
“It was already 30 degrees, and we have a small weather station here hooked up so I get notifications on my phone. I came in, and at that point there is nothing that can be done,” he said.
There is still some uncertainty moving forward. In some cases, vines can produce secondary buds—but those yields are typically smaller and less predictable.
“If we had a really good second bud, maybe 40 to 50% of the crop,” Ritter said. “And it’s not going to affect the wine we’re selling this year. When we harvest grapes this fall, it’s two to three—sometimes three to five—years before that wine is on the shelf. So down the road, there may be a hole in the sellable wine we have.”
Ritter estimates the loss could mean about 100,000 fewer bottles of wine in the future.
He says challenges like this are part of farming in New Jersey, where weather plays a critical role each year.
“Last year was one of the best years we’ve had—crops were perfect,” he said. “If you grow grapes in New Jersey, it’s an ongoing battle. Every spring you keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.”
For now, the focus at the winery is on recovery—and making the most of whatever the vines are still able to produce.
