Oregon Public Broadcasting

This week's cold snap has put Eastern Washington into below zero at times. The low temps can be risky for wine grape growers but some have been waiting for just this kind of cold. Anna King explains.

Scott Williams figures he lost about 15 tons of grapes to wind and birds while he was waiting on the cold. It has to get pretty darn frigid to bring in his crop for ice wine  --  at least into the low teens.

Williams says that's because the extra sugar in the grapes acts a bit like antifreeze.

Williams shows me the coldest block of his vineyard. It looks like a sepia-toned photograph. All muted colors. Williams isn't too worried about the low temperature.

Scott Williams: "I personally don't worry too much about what I can't control. I can't control how cold it gets. I can control our response to that."

Williams picks some of his fallen profits off the ground and gives me a taste.

Scott Williams: "I'm going to make sure it's not moldy or anything, but try this. Be brave."

Anna King: "It's like a popsicle or something. It has like a little core-y center of frozenness."

A little cold makes great ice wine. Too much cold can damage next year's buds and crop.

Some years, like in '96, Williams had to hack his mature vines to the ground because they froze out.