Global Warming Affecting Wine Vintages Worldwide

Earlier harvests, longer growing seasons and a shifting in latitude or altitude—these are the factors shaping the wine-making industry worldwide, and it all appears to be due to global warming. Whether it's France, Spain, Italy, Australia or the Finger Lakes region of New York, vintners are adjusting their vineyards to suit a changing climate. This year, across Europe, major wine producing regions harvested grapes weeks earlier than usual. In Spain, according to Bloomberg, the largest family owned vineyard is buying up high-altitude land to preserve the next generation's ability to produce wine. In New York, the slowly changing climate has made it possible to produce good wine, because now hard winter freezes are less frequent, and grape vines' tender roots survive the season. Most estimates say the quality of wine won't be affected—though the drought in Australia, whether or not it's related to global climate changes, may change this year's vintage. The bigger issue is where the grapes will be grown, and which grapes are grown in which region. Aficionados may therefore know Bordeaux or a Burgundy a bit differently in generations to come.

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