will European vineyards still be able to produce quality wine?

A study published in the scientific journal Nature Reviews Earth and Environment warns of the evolution of wine-growing regions around the world in the face of global warming.

Will Denmark one day dethrone France in terms of wine production? The scenario is not so far-fetched if we are to believe a study published in the scientific journal Nature Reviews Earth and Environment. This is a global map of the evolution of wine regions in the face of climate change. Study in which researchers from Bordeaux collaborated. According to them, 90% of wine regions in southern Europe and California are at risk of losing their ability to produce quality wine.

If global warming continues and exceeds two degrees, there will be winners and losers, according to this study. The losers are the Greek, Italian and Spanish wine growers. Those who will see their wine lose quality, their yield deteriorate. Rising temperatures will have an impact on the taste and acidity of the grapes and on the alcohol content. And this impact is already being felt with harvests taking place two to three weeks earlier than 40 years ago. The south of France should be relatively spared.

The researchers behind this study therefore recommend that winegrowers adapt, particularly by varying the grape varieties. “Logically, these are the grape varieties that originate from the Mediterranean basin such as Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan”, explains Kees Van Leuwenn, professor of viticulture at Bordeaux Science Agro. “These are grape varieties very well adapted to hot and dry conditions,” he adds, specifying that there is no question of relying on irrigation to counter the effects of climate change.

Other regions, on the other hand, could see their wine-growing potential develop. Northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands or even Denmark. But according to researchers, as long as warming is kept below the key threshold of two degrees, winegrowers will still be able to adapt.