The fact that climate change is happening (too) quickly has also led to a rethink in viticulture. Since the mid-1990s, grapevines have increasingly been planted in cooler, continental-influenced and usually higher-altitude areas, particularly in regions and countries with hot climates. Traditional grape varieties, which are favoured by the cool climate and the long ripening period (ripening time), are preferred. In general, viticulture with a continental climate or climatic influence is understood to mean a summer with hot days and cold nights, a mild autumn with little rain and a winter with heavy frost. Overall, the weather tends to be dry with around 500 to 600 mm of rainfall per year.
Application
In cool climate winegrowing, the vineyards are often planted at altitudes of up to 750 metres above sea level. Ideally, high temperatures and plenty of sunshine during the day in summer ensure optimum grape ripeness and cool nights ensure good acidity and fruit flavour development. A mild and dry autumn allows the vines to benefit from the full length of the vegetation phase. Such wines are generally characterised by fresher fruitiness, aromas and a balanced acidity. This form is increasingly being practised as an alternative, particularly in New World countries such as Australia, Chile, New Zealand and the USA, but also in some traditional European wine-growing countries.
Further processes
Robots are increasingly being used for vineyard management on large farms. In precision viticulture, climatic conditions are taken into account in vineyard management with the use of satellites. In Canada, there is CCOVI (Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute) as a branch of study at Brock University.
Further information
On this topic, see also Biodiversity (promotion of biodiversity), Climate Change and Wine (World Congress), Decarbonisation (reduction of carbon dioxide emissions), Globalisation (impact on viticulture), IWCA (International Wineries for Climate Action), Climate change (through emissions), myclimate (climate protection), Sustainability (use of regenerative systems), Greenhouse effect (global warming through greenhouse gases) and Pollution (environment).
