11353 Snow on Snow

Had to give up taking the dogs outside now - the snow is deeper than they are! It's about 20 inches deep and still snowing strong.

Last time it was this heavy (mid December) I spent the day fighting with the snow with tractor and plough. This time I am content to let it fall, will worry about digging us out when it has stopped.

Category
Piedmont

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/07/2009 - 16:54

Fingers crossed for no more land slides.......good luck

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/08/2009 - 02:00

Don't know much about wine (other than the obvious), but our neighbour always has some worries or other about what this type of weather ot that type of weather might do to his grapes. Will snow like that have any affect on the quality or quantity of wine you produce, or is it all too early to make a difference?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/08/2009 - 02:58

Here in Spain it is also very cold and snowy, even at sea level. The farmers and country people are very happy as there is an old saying that goes like this: "Año de nieves, año de bienes" which can be translated as "A year with snow, a year for money" So it may be doing something positive.
Fingers crossed!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 09:25

I think snow in winter isn't the problem with vines, but rather late frosts.I'm sure Phil will be along to comment later. The cold kills of the bugs and also gives plants a clear signal that it's time for a rest, plus the snow eventually turns to moisture in the soil.

My football team in a Piemonte/VdA league hasn't played since before Christmas so widespread has the snow been. As somebody joked at training the other night 'we'll get all the games played by Ferragosto'!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 09:32

In my book snow is a very good thing (except the snow that broke two of our olive trees - sob). I think I was asked this in another thread too. Currently the ceppi (main stock of the vine) is entirely covered by snow, an insulator as it happens, so the extreme air frosts are not a problem. Snow is also good at seeing off residual fungus and bugs on the old wood, and as said above provides a gradual feed of moisture into the ground even on steep slopes, where rain would run streight off.