Barossa Valley Frost Event: A Blow to the 2025 Vintage

The Barossa Valley has faced a devastating frost, one that Michael Kies, with 55 vintages under his belt, describes as the worst he’s seen in his grape-growing lifetime.

“This is the worst frost I have seen in my grape growing lifetime,” Kies remarked, capturing the magnitude of the damage. The frost occurred on two mornings—Friday, which impacted only the lower-lying areas of our vineyard, and Tuesday, when the temperature dropped to minus two degrees, resulting in the loss of approximately 80% of our crop. The last time we faced such destruction was during the frost event of 2015, which severely affected our 2016 vintage.

Frost Fans: Their Role and Limitations
In 2019, we installed two frost fans to help protect the vineyard from events like these. These fans have successfully saved our crops on four to five occasions. Frost fans work by drawing warmer air from higher up (the inversion layer) downwards, circulating it over the vines to prevent freezing temperatures from causing damage. However, during Tuesday’s frost, the inversion layer wasn’t warm enough to prevent the destruction, as the temperatures plummeted to minus two degrees.

The Role of the Full Moon and Clear Skies
The combination of a full moon and clear skies created the perfect conditions for frost, exacerbating this already extreme weather event. Clear skies allow heat to escape more rapidly, while the full moon reflects that lost warmth, leaving the vineyard vulnerable to the freezing air settling in the valleys and lower areas. This made the frost even more severe, especially on Tuesday.

What Happens Now?
Although the frost has caused considerable damage, there is hope in the form of secondary buds. The vines may produce secondary shoots, but these tend to be more fragile and yield smaller crops. With two more full moons expected in October, we pray that no further frost occurs during this period, giving these secondary shoots a fighting chance to survive.

How It Affects Your Favourite Wines
The frost has primarily affected our Frontignac, Riesling, Merlot, and Shiraz vines. Thankfully, Cabernet Sauvignon, which is later to shoot, has largely escaped the frost’s impact.

In light of this, as of tomorrow, our Sparkling Tina will become a wine club-only wine, as we don’t anticipate a Frontignac crop for the 2025 vintage. The remaining stock will need to be carefully allocated to our club members. Heysen Gold will follow shortly, with both the 2026 vintages of Sparkling Tina and Heysen Gold expected to be released mid-2026. Until then, we will be allocating stock to our club members, as promised, to ensure they continue to enjoy their favourite wines.

How Can You Support Us?
There are several ways you can support us during this challenging time:

Join our wine club: By becoming a member, you can select your favourite wines and enjoy 15% or 20% off throughout the coming years, ensuring you won’t run out of your preferred bottles.
Visit us: Pop by for a visit and experience our current range of award-winning wines—we promise to provide you with a great time!
Spread the word: Tell your friends about your favourite Australian family-owned winery and help raise awareness about supporting small growers and primary producers in the region. There are many growers who are really hurting right now, and every bit of support helps.

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