Will you still enjoy your favorite glass of wine in the coming years?
Wine and Climate
Most of us once in awhile indulge in our favorite glass of wine to pass time or as we celebrate new beginnings, milestones and so forth. So the last thing we want is to find out if the taste, texture or alcohol content of our preferred bottle of wine has changed! Question is , is this inevitable? What role does climate have on your favorite bottle of Pinot noir? In this article we look to understand how the intricate and delicate nature of our vineyards, and how climate change will affect quality of wine in the future.
Climate is the most important factor in determining the quality of wine. Although factors such as soil type, rock, and grapevine variety are important environmental factors, climate ultimately has a greater impact on the wines final taste and texture and it’s growing process. It therefore becomes the baseline to measure the difference between wine styles that currently exist and will exist in the near future. Climate variability influences quality, structure, and suitability of wine varieties.Â
Is there an ideal climate for wine production?
Wine grapes can be grown across landscapes to produce different lifestyles with the end result dependent on their climate niche. Regions and climatic envelopes determine the ripening cycle of any grape variety.Â
However, growing seasons are getting warmer and longer. Meaning the ripening profiles have changed, with grapes accumulating sugar faster therefore having a redefined final taste.
Take for instance, Burgundy, France. It is famous for its Burgundy wines as well as Pinot Noirs ,Chardonnay, Chablis and Beaujolais. Burgundy in the 1950s had a cooler temperature meaning the ripening process was longer and sugar did not accumulate. This region has been known to produce ideal wine varieties which however will inevitably change as the temperature continually rises. Environmentalists project that temperatures will keep rising and taste of the wine and wine style redefined .
What does the future hold?
France is at the moment in a difficult situation. They are experiencing temperatures, you can tell by even tasting grapes that there is change in sugar and PH levels. Overall we will experience warmer and drier summers that will result in increased heat stress, and increased water demand. This means for vineyard owners that they will need to increase adaptive capacity. They will also have to rethink harvesting season and predetermine when to start wine production. This will ensure PH and sugar levels are less affected by the continually changing climate.
Some beneficial impact will happen too for some regions e.g Oregon, USA . The warming will produce increased viability for some varieties that do well in this region of the world. In the North America region, the warmer seasons have become notably longer. This means the winegrowers have an easy time in improving the quality of the final output.
Adapting to the New Wine Style
A slight increase in temperature of just 1.5°C could mean a disruption of current vinicultural practices. This will lead to the deterioration of the end product. Wine consumers will need to be adaptable to change in wine quality and varieties. Your favorite bottle of wine from the South of France may have a slight difference in taste.
We will have to continually find wine that is good for us, or that we will enjoy regardless. It’s not all bad news though! We will get to adventure and enjoy the new varieties that will now exist due to the warmer climates! All you need is an open mind as you sip new varieties! Cheers!
