German Winemakers Light Fires to Save Vines

Winemakers in Saxony’s Elbe Valley are lighting hundreds of small fires in vineyards this week as forecasters warn of a late cold snap that could damage more than 100,000 vines.

The Staatsweingut Wackerbarth said it plans to ignite controlled frost-protection fires in eight vineyards and young plantings in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, when temperatures in Saxony are expected to fall to as low as minus 3 degrees Celsius. The winery said about one-third of its vineyard area is considered at risk from frost.

The measure comes after a spring frost two years ago caused major losses in the region’s wine industry. In 2024, Schloss Wackerbarth harvested only about 25% of a normal crop. At the time, the state of Saxony provided financial aid to wine and fruit growers affected by the damage.

Late frost is a recurring threat in Germany’s wine regions because vines can begin to bud early in the season, leaving young shoots vulnerable to sudden drops in temperature. In Radebeul, near Dresden, where Wackerbarth is based, workers were preparing the frost candles as weather officials warned of another cold night.

The German Weather Service said the cold air moving into Saxony could bring conditions severe enough to threaten exposed vineyard sites, especially in lower-lying areas and young plantings. The winery said several hundred small, controlled fires would be used to help keep temperatures around the vines above freezing.