Damaging Frost Event Hits Pikes Wines, Impacting on the 2026 Vintage

November Frost

On the morning of November 12th, we woke to one of the lowest November temperatures ever recorded in the Clare Valley. Unfortunately, it arrived at the worst possible stage of the growing season and caused significant damage across our Polish Hill River Estate.

This post gives our members and long-time supporters a clear picture of what happened, how we’re responding, and what it means for our 2026 vintage wines.

The video below talks through the key points, and we have summarised them below as well.

What Happened on November 12th

A combination of cool weather systems, clear skies and still air created perfect frost conditions. Many weather stations across the region reached record lows, and our vineyard hit around –3°C. Our frost fans ran for eight hours.

Some blocks were hit very hard and will not produce fruit for the upcoming vintage, while others escaped largely unscathed. Because this frost occurred so early in the season, the damaged vines do not have enough time to reshoot, flower and ripen new bunches.

This means lower yields from our own vineyards for the 2026 harvest.

Assessing the Vineyard & Our Next Steps

We’re now working block-by-block to understand what remains viable and how best to manage the season from here. Fortunately, many of our long-term growers were not impacted to the same extent. Traditionale Riesling has always included fruit from trusted Clare Valley growers, so for 2026 we’ll lean more on those long-standing partnerships.

We’re also in discussions with additional high-quality vineyards within the region, particularly for Riesling, to ensure we can maintain strong volumes of our most important wine, Traditionale Riesling.

Most importantly: quality will not be compromised. Every grape that comes in for 2026 must still meet the standards required to be included in any Pikes wine.

What This Means for 2026 Wines

Some 2026 wines may be produced in smaller volumes, and some may sell out earlier than usual.
Some price adjustments are expected; we’ll assess these in the new year.
Member access remains a priority, and allocations will reflect that.
Frost affects quantity, not quality - we will only bottle wines that meet the style and standard you expect from Pikes.
This update isn’t about seeking sympathy; it’s about transparency and raising awareness of how much weather influences what ends up in your glass. Wine is, at its heart, an agricultural product, and like all farmers, we’re subject to the season.

How You Can Support Wineries Affected by Frost

Many producers across the Clare Valley have experienced similar impacts. If you want to support wineries affected - including us - the most effective way is to buy direct.

Cellar doors, clubs and online stores make the biggest difference to regional producers.

Looking Ahead

We’ll keep you updated as the season progresses. We’re hopeful for a strong harvest in the blocks that remain viable, and we’re already planning the work needed to set the vineyards up for next year.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. Tough seasons are easier to navigate with a loyal and engaged community.

Merry Christmas, and here’s hoping for a smooth road into 2026.

Jamie Pike
Managing Director, Pikes Wines