Bordeaux Climate

Question 1

What is the climate in Bordeaux?

Answer 1

Moderate maritime climate

Question 2

Which sea affects the climate and other influence?
Effect on vineyard?

Answer 2

Atlantic Ocean, Gulf Stream = warming ocean current
extends growing season into Oct/Nov

Question 3

What weather does the ocean bring?

Answer 3

Sufficient rainfall to promote growth but also humidity

Question 4

Such a climate effect on grapes?

Answer 4

Excellent balance of tannins, sugar and acidity = remarkable longevity of great vintages

Question 5

What is the Left Bank protected from?

Answer 5

Extensive pine forests

Question 6

What is the rainfall in Bordeaux? result?

Answer 6

around 950mm a year, but with marked V Variation

Question 7

What can excessive rain cause at various times?

Answer 7

Flowering - poor fruit set
Growing Season - increased disease pressure
At Vérasion can lead to unripe fruit and fungal disease
Harvest - dilute flavours

Question 8

How has climate change effected production?

Answer 8

Hardy grapes can resist extremes of temperature.
However in hot dry years (2003) can lead to low acidity = wines lack balance, plus more alcohol

Question 9

Is the Maritime climate more prominent in the left or right bank?

Answer 9

less pronounced in the East (right bank)

Question 10

What effect can Frost have?
Key frost years?

Answer 10

Gironde estuary has a moderating effect
1956, 1991 and 2017

Question 11

What effect does Vintage Variation have?

Answer 11

mostly on Yields = financial implications for estates and wine business in general