Climate change has and will continue to affect grape growing, wine quality and yield. A 2019 study published in the academic journal Agronomy explored the impacts of climate change in viticulture (grapevine cultivation).
What are the main challenges climate change pose to wine production?
Temperatures are increasing, creating water deficits or droughts in wine-growing regions. Water stress reduces grape yield and quality.
Extreme temperature changes throughout the year are changing the length of growing seasons and harvest windows.
Extreme weather events such as hail or flooding are increasing in wine-growing regions, with negative implications for grape yield and quality.
Climate change is increasing and decreasing the levels of acidity in soil. Viticulture relies on specific soil pH ranges to ensure nutrient balance for plant growth, yield and quality.
Increased humidity during the spring and summer growing seasons promotes fungal diseases that reduce wine quality, such as powdery mildew and black rot.
Canada’s thriving wine industry contributes $847.6 million to our economy and employs more than 37,000 workers. Let’s protect our wines, and the people who work hard to produce and market them from climate change impacts. Tell government you want urgent, bold, ambitious action now.
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