Some of the world’s traditional wine regions, from Europe to Southern California, are at risk at almost completely disappearing within decades, researchers found. The necessary conditions to produce grapes are threatened by the climate change.
As humans continue to burn fossil fuels, the planet is getting warmer and the increasing temperatures are cause for more extreme weather. In a review published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, scientists found that climate change’s impact in the coastal and lowland regions of Spain, Italy, Greece and Southern California is significant. By the end of the century, almost 90% of these regions could be at risk of disappearing, due to the excessive drought and the more frequent heat waves. Wine production is highly influenced by the temperature, precipitation, humidity, radiation and carbon dioxide levels, all of them affected by climate change.
A changing climate also brings the risk of new pathogens and insects that can impact agriculture. Additionally, climate factors affect the levels of pH, alcohol content and acidity, researchers found. While the alcohol and pH levels are increasing in wines, the acidity levels are decreasing, which makes the microbiology within the beverage more unstable.
Researchers conclude that “climate change will drive major changes in global wine production in the near future. Having the flexibility to adapt to these changes will be essential”
Source: cbsnews.com
Editor: Adriana Cazacu
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