Spring Frost in Lalande de Pomerol: A Silent Threat

Each spring, winegrowers across Bordeaux hold their breath. From budburst in March to mid-May, there's a constant low-key fear: frost. It doesn't come every year — but when it does, it can be devastating.

A History of Losses at Château Canon Chaigneau

At Château Canon Chaigneau, we've experienced this firsthand.

• In 2017, a brutal April frost hit our vines just after budburst. Despite our best hopes, nearly 80% of our crop was lost.

• In 2021, a similar fate: around 60% of our production was wiped out.

For a family-run estate like ours, the consequences aren’t just financial — they’re deeply emotional. You work all winter for those tender spring buds… and a few freezing hours can undo everything.

When is the Frost Risk Over?

Traditionally, we consider the danger past by May 15, right after the “Ice Saints” — a series of feast days long watched by farmers and winemakers. And while climate change is shifting weather patterns, this date remains a comforting marker.

This year, the buds made it through unscathed. And while we’re relieved, we know better than to forget.

Fighting Frost: Candles, Helicopters, and Giant Fans

There are various techniques to fight frost — some poetic, some controversial:

• Paraffin candles (bougies) are placed between the vines to gently raise temperatures. Romantic, yes. But also expensive, labor-intensive, and not without environmental concerns.

• Wind machines stir the cold air to prevent it from settling. These large fans are effective in certain topographies but are loud and costly to operate.

• Helicopters, used by prestigious châteaux like Troplong Mondot, circulate warmer air from above the vineyard. It's a bold approach — but it comes with major costs and safety concerns, especially during low-light, early-morning flights.

While some large estates can afford these strategies, many smaller properties — like ours — must weigh the cost, impact, and actual effectiveness very carefully.

Our Approach: Acceptance and Adaptation

At Château Canon Chaigneau, we’ve chosen a more restrained approach. We don’t employ high-tech frost protection systems. Not because we don’t care — quite the opposite. But because we believe in focusing our efforts on the resilience of the vines, soil health, and thoughtful vineyard management.

And truthfully, many of the so-called “solutions” remain unreliable, especially as weather becomes increasingly unpredictable. Sometimes, the wisest choice is to trust the land — and be ready to adapt.

Looking Forward

Frost may be behind us this year, but the season is just beginning. Next up: flowering, fruit set, and the slow, patient path to harvest.

In the meantime, we raise a glass to the survival of this vintage’s first chapter — and invite you to explore our wines, born of both struggle and resilience.