Grape growers ‘wine’ about cold wave across Nashik

As the annual cold-wave spell has taken Nashik and north Maharashtra under its sweep, there are apprehensions that the dip in temperature could endanger the region’s vineyards.

Grape experts said the lack of conducive temperature could have an adverse impact on the output in the state, which is India’s largest grape producer.

In Niphad tehsil, where most of the vineyards are located, temperatures have touched 8 degrees Celsius, while in Nashik the temperature is hovering around 10 degrees Celsius.

Grape Exporters’ Association of India (GEAI) president Jagannath Khapare said grape clusters would be in danger once temperatures touched 3 degrees Celsius since below this temperature, chilling injury occurs in the grape berry, which is then destroyed.

“The current temperature is hovering around 10 degrees Celsius and goes down for short periods. At temperatures below 8 degrees Celsius, the metabolism of the vine slows down. So if a crop is generally harvested within 120 days, the cold prolongs the process, and it sometimes takes 160 days to ripen,” Mr Khapare said.

Mr Khapare said that the yield would be less in areas where there was low rainfall or excess rainfall.

The bulk of the state’s vineyards, about two lakh acres, are located in Nashik district. The rest totalling one lakh acres are located in Sangli, Pune and Solapur, apart from other places in Maharashtra.