
With yesterday being Earth Day, there
has been much talk about the future of the environment. One thing I hadn't seen discussed until I read
this Observer article is the effect of
global warming on wine. A recent conference called '
Global Warming and Wine' looked at the issue
in depth. Grape growing may, in the next 40 to 70 years, may no longer be possible in the Catalonian wine regions of
Spain. The Bordeaux region could also be in peril. Water restrictions will also change the future of wine making. If
you like wines that grow in warmer climates ( Petit Verdot, Grenache, Touriga, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Viognier and Muscat
among others) then you are in luck. The article also points out that red wines may be able to be grown in areas that
are traditionally too cold for red grapes.