NJ vineyards navigate a rough weather year, from spring frost to summer heat
Growers across the state scrambled to respond, often deploying frost candles, smudge pots and other protective measures, often at significant cost.
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New Jersey vineyards are contending with one of their more difficult growing seasons in recent years, with damaging spring frost and unpredictable summer heat.
A hard frost hit the region in April, with temperatures dropping into the mid-20s, cold enough to kill the young shoots that had just emerged for the season. Early budding varieties were especially at risk. Growers across the state scrambled to respond, often deploying frost candles, smudge pots and other protective measures, often at significant cost.
At Unionville Vineyards in Hunterdon County, crews spent nearly $30,000 on lighting frost candles across 40 acres. Even so, the vineyard lost about 30% of its crop this year, prioritizing its highest-value blocks over sections it couldn’t afford to protect.
Now, as summer heat sets in, vineyards face a different challenge. Temperatures above 95 degrees can stress vines and stall ripening, while intense sun during heat waves can sunburn the fruit. To manage the swings, growers selectively remove leaves from the vines, exposing grapes to a gentler morning sun, while leaving leaves in place in the afternoon to block peak-heat exposure.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” said John Cifelli , general manager of Unionville Vineyards. “You have to have a certain amount of heat over the course of a whole growing season… but when it gets above 95, the vine starts to stress and shut down.”
Rain and humidity add another layer of risk, particularly for thin-skinned varieties like pinot noir, which are prone to rot late in the season.
“That’s why pinot noir is called the heartbreak grape,” Cifelli said. “It’s something that just when it’s about to get right, can start to fall apart a little bit.”
Despite the setbacks, Cifelli says they’re still optimistic heading into fall. Picking typically begins as early as late August and can run into November, weather permitting, and their reserves have kept business flowing where the frost might have impacted them.
“As long as the weather holds up, we’re looking forward to another good, high-quality vintage,” Cifelli said.
