Rising temperatures and seasonal changes may mean winemakers in New Zealand could change their grape varieties for production, a new study from Lincoln University has found.
The research suggests the regions of the world suitable for growing wine grapes could shrink by half, however the loss may be prevented to an extent if vintners change the grapes they grow.
With two degrees Celsius of warming, 56 per cent of the world’s winegrowing may no longer be suitable for producing wine, while four degrees Celsius of warming may increase this to 85 per cent.
“New Zealand could adapt to climate change by gaining suitable grape-growing areas in regions not currently suitable, or we may be able to introduce and expand production with varieties such as Grenache and Mourvèdre, which are more suited to a warmer climate,” said Lincoln University senior lecturer in viticulture Dr Amber Parker.
In collaboration with researchers at the University of Alcalá in Spain and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, the study focused on 11 varieties of wine grapes under three different warming scenarios – zero, two and four degrees of warming.
It found that losses were unavoidable at the different temperatures of warming, but losses could be reduced if winegrowers switched to grape varieties more suitable for the changing climate.
“For example, in France’s Burgundy region, heat-loving Mourvèdre and Grenache could replace current varieties such as Pinot noir. In Bordeaux, Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot could be replaced with Mourvèdre,” the report found.
The potential for 24 per cent of the world’s winegrowing areas would be lost with two degrees Celsius of global warming, rather than 56 percent.
Researchers noted legal, cultural and financial hurdles may arise if wine grape varieties were switched in certain regions.
