Smart Monitoring Solution for Vineyard Frost Protection
Award-winning Court Garden Vineyard uses RIoT Sensors to stay one step ahead of frost damage!
For centuries, the world’s finest sparkling wines have hailed from France. But recent advances in viticulture and winemaking -combined with a warming climate in southern England- have sparked a boom in high-quality English Vineyards. As a result, regions like Sussex are now producing sparkling wines that rival their French counterparts.
But while temperatures in southern England have increased over the last fifty years, helping vineyards produce more consistent and high-quality grapes, the famously unpredictable Britsih weather can still wreak havoc on the grape vine. One of the biggest challenges is Spring frosts, which can cause severe damage to vines’ just as they begin to bud.
The Problem: Frost Damage to Growing Vines
At Court Garden Vineyard in Sussex-producers of critically acclaimed English sparkling wine-frost damage remains a real and costly risk. Traditional frost protection methods exist (such as heaters, wind machines, or sprinklers), however their effectiveness relies heavily on timing.
Accurate frost detection is critical to protecting crops - particularly in vineyards, where even one cold snap can cause significant damage. While various monitoring solutions exist, many are prohibitively expensive and out of reach for smaller growers. this leaves a crucial gap in the market for affordable, reliable frost detection systems tailored to smaller vineyards. Frost risk to vines varies throughout different stages of the year. While frost is more likely to occur in the cold winter months, vines are dormant and more resilient at that time. In vineyards, frost becomes a critical concern around 0°C, specific frost trigger point for vine damage typically begins around -1°C to -2°C. For example, in early spring, vines soften and begin to grow, a drop to -2°C can damage buds and shoots- leading to reduced yields or even crop failure.
Vineyard Frost & Temperature Thresholds
Key Temperatures:
0°C (32°F) - Freezing point; frost possible depending on humidity/dew point, but not all tissues harmed. Frost candles and wind machines used.
-1°C to -2°C (28-30°F) - Critical damage risk during sensitive growth stages.
< -2°C (28°F) - Severe damage likely to young shoots, buds, and flowers.
Growth Stage Sensitivity
Dormant (Winter) - Tolerates - 15°C to -20°C (5°F to -4°F).
Bud break & early growth - Most vilnerable; damage possible just below freezing.
Flowering - Very sensitive; frost can greatly reduce yield.
Post-veraison (Ripening) - Less sensitive; frost can still damage foliage and stop sugar development.
Frost Types
Radiation frost - Calm, clear nights; cold air settles at ground level (spring/fall).
Advective frost - Cold air mass; widespread, more severe, harder to protect against.
The Solution: A Monitoring Solution to detect Frost
To help overcome the risk of frost damage to their buds and shoots, Court Garden have deployed a network of RIoT Beehive Temperature Sensors (UK Manufactured by RF Solutions) across their fields. These smart sensors provide a temperature reading remotely every thirty minutes back to a gateway hub, which uploads the data onto the Wireless Monitoring platform. Information can be viewed via a PC or smart device.
RIoT ‘Beehive’ Temperature Sensor deployed on the vineyard
Example Dashboards:
Snapshot of Court Garden vineyards via the RIoT Wireless Monitoring platform - showcasing the deployment of 7 x RIoT ‘Beehive’ temperature sensors strategically across the vineyard.
Here are a couple of snapshots of the Court Garden dashboard, where staff can monitor their fields from the Wireless Monitoring platform via desktop or smart device.
Data from 7 X temperature sensors deployed over the last 24-hour period - showing battery and temperature status.
This setup empowers vineyard staff to monitor real-time and historical temperature conditions from any location-whether via PC or smart device-enabling timely intervention ahead of frost events.
The intuitive platform provides live data access and customisable alerts, helping vineyard managers make informed decisions that protect crops and improve operational efficiency throughout the growing season.
With this setup, vineyard staff can:
Access real-time and historical temperature data remotely
Monitor temperature trends to anticipate incoming frost events
Place sensors in known “weak points” where vines are most vulnerable
Configure automated alerts based on custom temperature thresholds
Court Garden has configured the platform to issue immediate SMS and email alerts if any sensor detects temperature falling below 0°C. This gives the team crucial time to activate frost protection measures-such as vineyard heaters or vegetables oil-based wax candles-precisely where and when they’re needed.
This strategic approach ensures cost-effective, targeted frost mitigation and reinforces the vineyard’s commitment to crop quality and resilience.
Example Text & Email Alerts when temperature drops:
As with all experienced viticulturists, Court Garden’s team knows the “weak points” in their vineyard-the areas most vulnerable to frost. By strategically deploying RIoT sensors in these specific zones, they gain targeted insights and can apply protective measures precisely where they’re needed most.
Results since deploying RIoT Temperature Sensors:
Proactive frost protection across vulnerable vineyard zones
Eliminates reliance on broad or inaccurate weather forecasts
Affordable and scalable monitoring solution
Provides historical data for seasonal analysis and planning
Enables precision timing for deploying heaters or other protective methods
Helps prevent loss of crop and revenue
Supports optimal yield and wine protection
When temperature drops in Spring time, the staff at Court Garden are alerted to this ahead of time, allowing them to deploy vegetable oil wax candles where needed across the fields.
Court Garden are well stocked up on Vegetable Oil Wax Candles for when frost arrives!
By using a combination of many RIoT Temperature Sensors across their fields and the Wireless Monitoring platform, Court Garden can respond quickly and effectively to frost threats-preserving the health of their vines and protecting their harvest. This allows them to focus on what they do best; producing world-class English sparkling wine for all to enjoy.
To find out more about RIoT Temperature Sensors, click here.
To purchase some excellent English Sparkling Wine from Court Garden, click here.
Have an application that a requires wireless monitoring solution? Get in touch with us via support@rfsolutions.co.uk!
