Vineyards Watch as Temperatures Drop

With cold temperatures forecast for this weekend, local wineries are keeping their fingers crossed with hopes temperatures don't drop too low for too long.

It's a nervous time for many local vineyards, with the bulk of their crops still hanging on the vines.

But it's not the grapes they're worried about, it's the leaves.

"See a dip down into the twenties forced into what you see this death of the leaves browning out and dropping off vines and this can really slow things down and stop the photosynthesis process we need to get this fruit a little riper," said Chris Martin, owner of Troon Vineyards.

Cold temperatures at night aren't unusual for this time in October.

"High 20s mostly 30s will be the bottom of what we see not the 25 and 26," he said.

When the thermometer hits 26 degrees or lower for a few hours, that's when it's time to worry.

"Frost damage tips out ends come out brown and fall off leaves dessicate," he explained.

The crops need a little more time to grow before most are ready to come down for the year. Many wineries will turn to fans or water sprayers. This vineyard says it hasn't felt the need to invest in the expensive equipment yet.

"Drink a glass of wine say a little prayer and wake up the next day and hopefully no frost damage or frost to the vines," he said.

In recent years, the vineyard has worked to find ways to grow crops so they don't have to worry about freezing temperatures. They're growing crops closer together and having each vine grow fewer grapes, to reduce stress on the vines. They say it's about adapting to change.

As part of a newly formed Wine Institute at Oregon State University.

Wine experts from throughout the state will take a look at global warming and how viticultural practices will need to change in the future so they won't be as dramatically affected by challenges such as frost.

Many Southern Oregon wineries are hoping for one more warm week before the growing season ends.