European winemakers are changing their approaches due to heat waves and droughts
French winemakers are starting the grape harvest much earlier than usual due to heat waves and unstable weather conditions. According to France 24, while three decades ago the harvest usually began in late September and could last until early November, in some regions it now starts as early as August.
In the Gironde department in southwestern France, wildfires this year destroyed more than 40,000 hectares. At the same time, winemakers face the risk of grapes having excessively high sugar content and low acidity. This makes it difficult to produce wines with their usual flavor profile, as high temperatures accelerate the ripening of the grapes before their aromas have fully developed.
To preserve the harvest, producers in some regions are harvesting grapes at night to prevent them from oxidizing in the sun. Other adaptation methods include pruning vines to create natural shade, using talc to protect leaves from sunburn, planting cover crops to retain moisture in the soil, and replacing grape varieties with ones that are more drought-resistant.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
At the same time, global warming is opening up opportunities for winemaking in northern European countries, particularly in England, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Some French producers, for whom high grape acidity is important, are investing in English vineyards. However, Hugo Seyi, a lecturer at the Burgundy School of Wine and the Alcohol Industry, noted that it is still too early to speak of a radical shift in winemaking from the south to the north.
According to him, some vineyards in Norway and Sweden have already achieved economic stability, regularly producing high-quality grapes, but they are primarily focused on the domestic market. In Sweden, about 4,000 hectares of land are considered suitable for winemaking, but the industry’s development is hampered by the risks of frosty winters and the significant costs of maintaining young vineyards.
Spain, despite a reduction in vineyard acreage, remains the world leader with 930,000 hectares. France has 783,000 hectares of vineyards. Experts note that access to water and drought conditions pose a particular challenge for the Spanish wine industry.
