Frost fans – Innovation by Midalidare in frost fighting

Frost fans are mechanical devices designed to mitigate the impact of frost on crops. The devices operate on the principle of air mixing – using the temperature inversion they redistribute warmer air from higher altitudes to the ground level. During the radiation frost event, heat from the soil is radiated into the atmosphere forming a warm laver called inversion level. Frost fans utilize this inversion layer and mix the warmer air with the colder, denser air found on ground level. This effectively lifts the ground temperature by a few degrees to minimize the risk of frost occurrence.

Upon making the decision about this huge investment we created a strategic map of our most endangered vineyards and purchased 14 frost fans. A single large frost fan typically protects 4 to 6 hectares and placing one or two on a 44-ha vineyard will just pass the cold air from one block to another. Of course, if the block is small and at the end of the vineyard, as is the endangered block on Prisovete vineyard, one device will be completely sufficient. So, we placed the remaining 9 frost fans on Shipkata vineyard and 4 frost fans on Karaliets vineyard with strategy each one to pass the cold air to the next one. Thus, when the frost enters the lowest block, the first device shoves it out to the neighboring one until the cold air is completely ventilated out of the vineyard. The process is completely automated, and the devices are synchronously preset. 

Today, on April 28th, is the first “working day” of our investment. We believe this is the right way to protect our vines and thus ensure not only good crops but healthy plants and wonderful wines!