Gaby
The climate crisis threatens nearly every aspect of life, and winemaking is no exception.
Researchers at Lancaster University in the UK say warming will make wine sweeter — almost jammy.
The art of wine tasting will change. As climates warm, telling grape varieties apart will get much harder. Experts say identifying subtle aromas will be the toughest part. High temperatures lead to sweeter wines, causing traditional floral and earthy flavors to fade. Global warming is also likely to increase alcohol levels in wine.
Emma Sayer, a professor of ecology and the study’s lead author, says the climate crisis will “reveal those who enjoy pondering wine without really knowing what they’re talking about.” Wine lovers will need to spot differences between wines made from grapes grown at different temperatures, and experts will have to catalog and study new varieties.
Sayer says climate change could hit expensive, exclusive wines. Those wines depend on grapes with the “right acidity” that thrive in cooler regions, so they may become rarer and more sought-after, the Daily Mail reports. Warming will also reduce phenolic compounds — tannins — which influence how dry a wine tastes.
Sayer also suggests climate change could bring increased rainfall, which would gradually wash out wines’ distinctive flavors.
Producers are already harvesting grapes earlier, choosing different varieties, and adapting fermentation methods to the changing climate. Still, people will have to get used to new styles of wine.
Sayer warns that not every tasting in a warmer world will be pleasant. Some wines may taste smoky because grapes get exposed to wildfire smoke.
Earlier, ecologists warned that to avoid exceeding 1.5°C of warming, greenhouse gas emissions must fall by 65 percent by 2035.
