Global warming poses major challenges for vintners. How do you deal with shriveling grapes, with water shortages, with depleted soil under your vines? And how do you yourself contribute to turning the tide? Text and photos Marjolein Schuman
Regenerative agriculture provides answers. After organic and biodynamic farming, this is the new direction to get your vineyard healthy naturally. The landscape becomes greener, soil quality improves and water is better retained. The method is scientifically based with microbiology as a starting point. Living soils are the goal because then the plants can take care of themselves and chemical aids are unnecessary. Other techniques for vintners to cope with the climate include planting heat-resistant grape varieties and establishing vineyards at high altitudes, where it is cooler.
WINELIFE is naturally keen to find out what goes on under the ground. And what goes on among winemakers threatened by the climate. Think, for example, of the higher alcohol content in wines as the grapes start to develop more sugars when warm, and the risk of bitter notes in the flavour because the pips and skins cannot fully ripen. Where better to discover this than in mega-warm Catalonia?
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