Loire Valley
My first vineyard interview took place in Vouvray, a French region situated in the Loire Valley. The area is dominated by the presence of the Loire, France's longest and most famous river. On both east and west ends of the region, winewaker grow mostly dry white. In the center, different varieties abound. In Vouvray, the most famous grape is called Chemin Blanc. This grape is the most widely planted variety in South Africa today but it is originated from Loire Valley. Below is a list of questions I conducted. The man in the video is the owner of the vineyard. After the tour, I asked him:
-What is your opinion on the effects of global warming?
-How does climate change impact the grape phenology and quality?
-What are some specific actions wine makers are taking to adopt to climate change?
The Chenin blanc grapevine buds early in the growing season and ripens mid to late in the harvest year. However, in warm years, the climate change has stymied the potential of the full ripeness. The unstable climate can cause the vine to be infected by noble rot, which also lowers yields and adds and intensifies certain flavors, the wines develop less overtly floral aroma notes but more depth and layers. The cool climate of the Loire insures that the wines will always have a lean acidity that balances well with their fruit and alcohol.
After this interview, I began to wonder: Is global warming good for wine? According to the video response, it is not the first time the french have truly considered global warming and its potential long-term effect on their wines. The winemaker later explained that if temperature increase over the next century by two cesius, there could be a probable shift northward in the world's winemaking regions during that time. That meant that places like Sweden, Norway and north central England could become important grape-growing zones, while established locations like southern Spain and southern Portugal might simply drop off the winemaking map altogether. Therefore in a way, the French winemakers are extremely worried about climate change but no vital actions have been taken according this particular interview.
