Weather hurts local winery

Clark County business won’t know extent until spring.

The recent cold snap isn’t just wreaking havoc on roads and school calendars — it’s also affecting local wineries.

Jim Brandeberry, the owner of Brandeberry Winery, 5118 W Jackson Road, Enon, said some of his crop of approximately 350 vines is struggling to make it through the winter because of the extreme cold.

“It’s the changes in weather that get you, when it gets super cold after it’s been a bit warm,” Brandeberry said, “and you just have to take what Mother Nature gives you.”

January is already in the books as one of the top-20 coldest months on record, according to News Center 7 meteorologist Kirstie Zontini. Tuesday morning marked the 12th day with sub-zero temperatures this winter.

The winery currently has a small vineyard that is growing Vidal, Cayuga and Seyval grapes, according to its website. The current wine varieties include Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Vidal, Cayuga, Seyval, Cherry and Blackberry.

Brandeberry also purchases grapes from other growers. They may also be facing similar issues.

“Hopefully, they’ll be places that I buy fruit from that survived it and are producing reasonable crops,” Brandeberry said.

Brandeberry said he’ll have a better idea of the damage to his crop come spring.

“We’ll just have to hold and keep our fingers crossed and wait and see what happens,” Brandeberry said.

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