Dr. Konstantin Frank Installs First Wind Machines on Keuka Lake - Three New Machines Will Help Protect Vineyards from Frost

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery continues its pioneering legacy by installing the first wind machines on Keuka Lake. The three machines will help protect the winery’s vines from damaging frost events, which have become an increasing concern for vineyards across the Finger Lakes region.

Wind machines help mitigate frost damage by circulating warmer air from an inversion layer above the vineyard and mixing it with colder air that settles near the vines. Although their effectiveness depends on weather conditions, the machines can reduce frost damage when temperature inversions are present. With careful planning and placement, each wind machine can protect roughly 10 acres. The winery placed the wind machines so that they would cover a vast growing area: the sparkling varieties around Chateau Frank, known as Chateau Frank Vineyard; Keuka Vineyard that grows Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and additional red varieties; and the North Farm Vineyard, home to the winery’s most prestigious grape varieties: Riesling and Rkatsiteli.

“Spring frost has become a risk in the Finger Lakes,” said Meaghan Frank, Vice President of Dr. Frank and 4th generation vintner. “When warmer winters and early spring conditions are followed by sudden cold temperatures, the vines can develop earlier, leaving tender buds vulnerable to frost. We experienced these damaging frost events not only in the spring of 2023, but again this year. Late-season frosts can kill grape buds and reduce yields, causing significant economic damage. These events prove how important it is to invest in additional protection for our vineyards.”

The project was funded through New York State’s Climate Resilient Farming (CRF) program, which provides financial assistance to farms investing in practices and equipment that help them adapt to climate-related challenges. The machines were purchased and installed by Superior Wind Machine Service, Inc., based in Caledonia, Michigan.

“The intention of the grant was to help vineyards in the region become more resilient to a changing climate,” says Tom Eskildsen, Senior District Technician with the Yates County Soil & Water Conservation District, who has worked with Dr. Frank since 1997 through the Keuka Lake Watershed Agricultural Environmental Management program. “Whether the fans are used during extreme cold events in winter or for late-season frost events, they can be highly effective at protecting vineyards from frost.”

The project also expands the conservation district’s efforts to help farms build long-term resilience. Traditionally, many of its initiatives have focused on runoff control, soil management, and pesticide management. Supporting frost-protection equipment adds another tool to that work.

For the Frank Family, the installation represents an investment in the long-term health of its estate vineyards and the continued production of high-quality vinifera wines. As weather patterns become less predictable, wind machines can help mitigate frost risk and support the long-term capability of grape growing in the Finger Lakes region.