As farmers we are used to weather watching. For as long as we have farmed, we have relied on working with mother nature to grow and produce the food and drink we enjoy.

For grapes this is equally imperative, and they can be rather fickle when it comes to changes in the season.

When we set out on this journey, one of our first actions was to install data loggers in the vineyard area. These are simple devices (although all new to us!) which act as round-the-clock digital thermometers; the idea being that we could establish the hot and cold spots of the vineyard.

But why is this important? In the UK the main weather risk to grape-growing is a spring frost. While there are other key weather systems that can cause serious damage, such as severe wind, heavy rain and drought, in our case a spring frost is the biggest hazard. So we now have an anxious wait to see how the spring temperatures fair.

The reason why a spring frost is so problematic, is because the buds are just appearing on the vines. Much like any plant or tree, e.g. an apple tree, if a severe frost hits after bud burst, the buds are frozen and killed off. This means no pollination by bees and eventually little to no fruit.

So to say that a spring frost can be problematic is an understatement! In fact frost episodes this year caused huge losses, particularly in the Champagne region as well as the UK, with some losing entire crops. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent frost damage such as candles throughout the vineyard and sprinkler systems which form an icy jacket around the buds, although these anti-frost options can be very costly.

Until now, we have recorded quite astonishing temperatures, with anything from -4c a week ago, to 38c during the summer! Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a frost-free spring!