3.5/3.6 Weather & Climate Change

Question 1

What is vintage variation? What can this lead to in the winery?

Answer 1

• Weather significantly influences the grape quality/yield in turn influencing the wines produced in that year
• eg sugar and acid levels, and tannin and aroma/flavour ripeness.
• Leads to adjustments made in the winery

Question 2

How can weather affect yields?

Answer 2

• Rain - fungal disease through the development cycle and particularly at harvest
• Spring frosts - damage at budburst

Question 3

Why can high yields be problematic in the winery?

Answer 3

• The winery may not have the capacity for the increased volume of fruit
• Finding routes to market/customers for all the wine (at a profit) may be difficult.

Question 4

How can weather affect the styles of wines produced in a certain year?

Answer 4

winemakers may adapt to yield/quality by producing different styles
cooler years more sparkling wine or rosé
warmer or drier years other styles.

Question 5

What is the main measurable weather effect of climate change? What does this lead to as a result.

Answer 5

• Main: rise in temperatures
• increase inevapotranspiration (leads to water stress)
• Changes in the geographical distribution of rainfall
• Greater weather variability
• Greater frequency of extreme weather events

Question 6

How has rising temperatures affected the vine cycle?

Answer 6

• In warmer temperatures, the vine cycle is faster
• Budburst occurs earlier in the spring; each stage of the vine cycle becomes quicker
• Speeds up the rate of sugar accumulation and reduction of acidity
• Does not quicken the ripening of most aroma and tannin compounds

Question 7

What must be done to accommodate the effect of climate change in warmer climates?

Answer 7

• to retain ripeness of aromas and tannins, the accumulation of colour, grapes may be picked with higher levels of sugar, causing higher alcohol levels in wines and lower levels of acidity.
• The more rapid fall in acidity can give wines with higher pH levels, and this could be problematic in winemaking.

Question 8

As the climate warms, are early-ripening or late-ripening grape varieties in danger? Why?

Answer 8

• Early-ripening
• Late-ripening typically require more time
• With faster ripening, late-ripening will ripen quicker but will result in more balanced wines

Question 9

What regions might benefit from climate change?

Answer 9

• Regions and countries that have previously been too cold to ripen grapes
• Regions that experience plentiful rainfall in the growing season (drier conditions will help reduce fungal diseases)

Question 10

What regions are experiencing excessive temperatures and/or drought? What does it mean for the future of these vineyards?

Answer 10

• Parts of California and South Africa

- Some vineyards may have to be abandoned in the next 50–100 years

Question 11

In what 4 ways have many grape growers and wine businesses started to act to mitigate and to better adapt to the effects of climate change?

Answer 11

1. Practise sustainable techniques such as using renewable energy resources and protecting natural ecosystems
2. Site selection
3. Choice of planting material
4. Efficacy of different vineyard management techniques