A recent report from Bain & Company indicates a significant shift in the wine-producing landscape of Europe, attributing changes to the effects of climate change. This report, titled the Fine Wines and Restaurants Market Monitor, suggests that increased temperatures will allow for the successful cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the UK, particularly as far north as Hull in Yorkshire by the year 2100. The findings suggest that regions across the Midlands, East Anglia, south Wales, and southern England, as well as areas in northern Europe, will transition into viable locations for growing what is one of the world’s most popular red wine grape varieties.
Currently, the primary cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon in the UK is confined to the warmer areas of southeast England. However, as this new climate data illustrates, the warming climate could lead to a broader geographical expansion for this grape variety. Scotland, nonetheless, is expected to remain unsuitable for Cabernet Sauvignon, even with the predicted changes due to colder temperatures.
The report emphasises that climate change could not only favour the UK but also other northern European countries, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Scandinavian nations, with potential implications for the wine industry across the continent. Conversely, some regions that currently grow Cabernet Sauvignon, such as parts of northern Spain and southern France, may find their conditions too hot by 2100, leading to decreased yields.
The report notes, "If the climate challenge is not addressed Cabernet Sauvignon, once exclusive to southern Europe, may thrive in central and northern regions by 2100.” It recommends that the industry should focus on adapting through policy reforms and agricultural technology to ensure a sustainable future. Current mapping indicates the loss of suitable vineyard areas in traditional southern European wine regions while highlighting the emergence of new possibilities in the north.
Additionally, the UK’s changing climate is posited to resemble that of historical wine-growing regions in Champagne and Burgundy, with the average growing season temperature having increased by 1.8°F (1°C) in much of southeast and eastern England since the 1980s. This warming trend has been a catalyst for the rapid expansion of the UK viticultural sector, which is now increasingly focused on vineyards that produce sparkling wines.
Professor Steve Dorling from the University of East Anglia commented on these developments, saying, “We’ve seen a rapid transition to these varieties over the last 10-15 years, partly because the warming climate suits them.” The growth of still wine varieties may also increase as the longer temperatures more suited to ripening will allow for higher-quality grape production.
Reflecting on the broader implications, it has been noted that regions in southern California, Italy, Greece, and Spain could see up to 90 per cent of their current wine-growing regions become unsuitable for vineyards if global temperature increases exceed 2°C by the century's end. This scenario highlights a potential crisis for the global wine industry, despite the increasing potential for British wine production.
The report serves as an important document for understanding the future of viticulture in an evolving climate, indicating both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, and providing insight into the changing profiles of tastes and production in the global wine market.
Source: Noah Wire Services