Global Warming & Wine

When you talk to grape growers and winemakers today, they will tell you climate is a major factor in how good a vintage will be. Researchers have found that vintages have improved as temperatures rose over the last 50 years, especially in areas with cooler climates. Vineyards in cooler climates, such as Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Northern France and Germany, could continue to benefit from global warming. These findings could prove troublesome for vineyards in traditionally warmer regions.

Odds are we are going to continue to see a warming environment, and there will be some challenges the industry will have to meet one way or another. Researchers have found that most vintages improved as vineyards’ temperatures rose an average of 1.3 degrees Celsius over the past 50 years. The effects were strongest in cool climate regions, such as the Mosel and Rhine valleys of Germany, Muscadet western Loire Valley, Champagne and Alsace regions of France, suggesting warmer temperatures offer the greatest advantage to cold-climate grape-growing regions.

Cooler climates, such as Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Northern France and Germany could continue to benefit from global warming. But regions with warmer climates, such as Italy’s famed Chianti region, Napa Sonoma Australia and South-Africa could see grapes ripen too quickly under ever warmer temperatures. Grapes that ripen too quickly on the vine generally have higher sugar content, which produces more alcoholic wine with less acidity and balance. Rising temperatures may force growers to manage vines differently to produce similar wine styles, or to plant different varieties better suited to the changing climate. The news could be unsettling for an industry that prides itself on regional identity and reputation.

A predicted rise of another 2 degrees Celsius over the next half century could have more mixed results. Rising temperatures are already leading to changes in the industry. Whether those changes will be permanent remains to be seen, but everyone agrees in most scientific circles that change is occurring. What that change is, is still up in the air. If it really is catastrophic and not just a blip, vintners will definitely change how they plant and where they plant.

In some areas, the change could already have been very detrimental. The extreme heat wave in Europe this summer, which some experts blamed on global warming, offers an example. Southern Italy and Greece are hard-pressed to produce any good wine this year. But in southern England, it may be their best vintage since prior to the little Ice Age.

There is however a lot more at stake here than wine. If global warming is a reality, the ensuing climate disruption is going to affect every aspect of our lives — our ecosystems, our economies, and our livelihoods. Global warming may become a worldwide catastrophe, but at least some wines should be better.

---------------------Article by winenews.com revised by Alain Bras----------------------------------

Recession hits the Wine World?

The Big “R” hit the wine business in a big way during 2009. But it hasn’t been bad for everyone and indeed some Wine Producers have thrived by introducing, to the Irish Market, new labels or new Cuvées from quality vineyards in Classic regions of Italy, France, Spain, South-Africa, Argentina and Chile.

The cleverly designed labels for these “ Recession Wines “ do not compete with other cuvee from the same winery per say, which are already established on the Irish Market, at a higher price. These “recession wines” were deliberately created at a time when they were most in need; really good wines at a very good price.

Piedmont, for example, the Alasia Winery produces a very sound Barbera d’Asti for €11.66; Ca’ del Matt in Monferrato has an excellent Barbera d’Asti at €12.86... Now this region is better known for expensive but beautifully crafted Barolos and Barbarescos. Also the lesser iconic Barbera d’Alba’s and Barbera d’Astis, will normally fetch some serious money in return for their Wines. A sign of the times surely, so let’s take advantage here.

The Armagnac region has an impeccable Vineyard Management Culture, producing excellent fruit from Ugni Blanc and Colombard, usually for distillation for the famous Brandy. They too have diversified into making wine as well as Armagnac Brandy, in order to adapt to new demands. With the region’s Financial Clout, they have built State of the Art Wineries to produce white wines of great simplicity, with clean flavours of not too fussy complexity, to satisfy a Market that craves for decent wines but for less money i.e. Lagarde winery has come up with a delicious dry White wine from the Comte Tolosan, west of Armagnac at €11.66.

South of Barcelona, in the district of Jumilla, Bodegas Luzón is hosting a South African (Bruce Jack) and an MW (Ed Adams). The Pair came up with the “La Bascula “ Brand, and make a wine under the label of Turret Fields, using plantings of Local Grapes, Monastrel (also known as Mourvèdre) and Syrah, lightly Oaked for €14.99; the Alcohol is a whopping 14.5%.

Other Wines from the same Culture;

Sant’ Elisa Venezie Pinot Grigio at €13.00.

Puna Snipe Central Valley Chile Cabernet Carmenère at €11.66.

Swallows’ Tale Western Cape Chenin Blanc €12.50.

So as the saying goes “there is always a silver lining”.

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