Climate and Wine

The yield of grape trees in the cold climate is low. When winter comes, there are not a few cases of frostbite or death of grape trees. For example, in Bordeaux and Burgundy, frost is one of the problems that grape growers face with the cold climate. Once the frost strikes, the area with slight disaster will have to reduce their losses by reducing production, and the area with serious disaster will face the choice to give up the brewing of the whole year. Moreover, even if the winter and spring seasons are passed smoothly, if the summer and autumn growth season is too short or the temperature is too low, the grapes will not fully mature.

Whether it is human intervention in the brewing process or the imaginative “creation” of the winemaker, all have the power to change a wine’s style, while the only force majeure is the climate. Humans cannot change the attributes of the climate, only to adapt to the climate to produce the most suitable wine.

How does climate affect wine?

The full range of climate terms includes factors such as temperature, day and night temperature difference, light and precipitation, and so on. The vineyards located in the cold climate zone have lower temperatures and less sun exposure, so the grapes cannot fully photosynthesize, and have lower natural sugars and higher acidity. Wines made from these grapes are often refreshing and lively, with flavors of high-acid fruits such as sour cherries and green apples. In a warm or hot climate zone, the situation is quite the opposite. There is sufficient sunshine and stable weather conditions, which make the grapes have high sugar content, condensed flavor substances, and a full-bodied with complex flavors. It can be seen that the characteristics given by climate are fully displayed in winemaking, which also explains why some experienced tasters can roughly judge the climate characteristics of the wine-producing area only after smelling the fragrance.

Many grape varieties have good environmental adaptability, being planted in different areas, the style of wine produced is very different. Through these varieties, we can better understand the influence of climate on wine style.

1. Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon can faithfully reflect the characteristics of different years and the terroir characteristics of the origins, and the climate difference will also make it show different style characteristics. In Bordeaux, a famous grape region, because Cabernet Sauvignon ripens late, the cool maritime climate often makes it show an astringent taste, and with hints of cedar and blackcurrant leaves. While, when planted in California, which has a relatively hot climate, Cabernet Sauvignon loses its herbaceous flavor and turns to mature fruit flavors or coffee flavors.

2. Chardonnay

Because it can grow easily in various climate conditions, Chardonnay is known as the “Queen of variety” in grape varieties. Chardonnay styles vary widely from climate to climate. In Burgundy, for example, three styles can be found from north to south. To the north, the climate of Chablis is cool, the acidity of the wine often tends to be high, has the aroma characteristics of green apples and citrus fruits, and the style is fresh. The climate in the middle like Cote d’Or region is warm, and the wine will show a delicate white stone fruit flavor. To the south, in Maconnais, the warmer climate has mellowed the wines, giving them a mellow, supple palate with moderate acidity and a lightly spiced flavor.

3. Pinot Grigio

The style of Pinot Grigio in France is very different from that in Italy. In Alsace, France, where the climate is warm and dry, Pinot Gris, often labeled as “Pinot Gris”, is golden yellow, smooth and high-alcohol, with flavors of mature tropical fruits and hints of ginger and honey. While, in Alto Adige, in northeastern Italy, Pinot Grigio, is called “Pinot Grigio”, whose style has become lighter, with a higher acidity, and the cool climate has given it aromas of green fruit and citrus.

Wine with Cold Climate

The yield of grape trees in cold climate is low. When winter comes, there are not a few cases of frostbite or death of grape trees. For example, in Bordeaux and Burgundy, frost is one of the problems that grape growers face with the cold climate. Once the frost strikes, the area with slight disaster will have to reduce their losses by reducing production, and the area with serious disaster will face the choice to give up the brewing of the whole year. Moreover, even if the winter and spring seasons are passed smoothly, if the summer and autumn growth season is too short or the temperature is too low, the grapes will not fully mature.

Due to global warming, many wine regions with cold weather have produced a lot of “warm style” wines in recent years. And the warm and hot regions benefit from the application of advanced planting technology and brewing technology, and it is more and more smooth on the road of balancing acidity and sugar content of the wines. It can be seen that the boundary between cold and warm climate has gradually blurred nowadays. However, it is undeniable that the climate still provides an important reference for people to pursue different styles of wine.anada, and New Zealand, “Chaptalization” can be added during fermentation to increase the alcohol content if the grapes after harvest do not have enough sugar to meet minimum alcohol requirements.

Wine with Warm and Hot Climate

Compared with the many challenges that cold weather brings to grape growers, the warm and hot climate of grape growing conditions has a much smaller adverse effect on winemaking. Sufficient light and stable growing season make the grapes accelerate to maturity, the accumulated sugar and flavor substances increase.

Compared with the many challenges that cold weather brings to grape growers, the warm and hot climate of grape-growing conditions has a much smaller adverse effect on winemaking. Sufficient light and stable growing season make the grapes accelerate to maturity, the accumulated sugar and flavor substances increase. the United States, Italy, and South Africa, when the acidity of the wine itself is not enough, the winemaker can add malic acid, tartaric acid or lactic acid to the wine to increase the acidity of the wine. But such an approach has been criticized. Most winemakers are still looking for ways to balance acidity and sugar during the natural growth of grapes, such as picking time in advance.

Due to the global warming, many wine regions with cold weather have produced a lot of “warm style” wines in recent years. And the warm and hot regions benefit from the application of advanced planting technology and brewing technology, and it is more and more smooth on the road of balancing acidity and sugar content of the wines. It can be seen that the boundary between cold and warm climate has gradually blurred nowadays. However, it is undeniable that the climate still provides an important reference for people to pursue different styles of wine.

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References

Denig, V., Kavanagh, D., Gray, W. B., Hyland, T., Denig, V., Gray, W. B., … Rand, M. (2019). Viticulture Versus Climate Change: Wine-Searcher News & Features. Retrieved from https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2019/03/viticulture-versus-climate-change.

Denig, V., Kavanagh, D., Gray, W. B., Hyland, T., Denig, V., Gray, W. B., … Rand, M. (2018). The Great Wine Industry Shake-up: Wine-Searcher News & Features. Retrieved from https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2018/08/the-great-wine-industry-shake-up.