While
England is jubilant over the possibility of making
some very good wines in the near future due to the
positive way the climate change has affected its
vineyards, a new book launched today indicates that
the increasing summer temperatures could mean some
parts
will be too hot to grow vines by 2080.
The author of The
Winelands of Britain: past, present and prospective,
Emeritus Professor Richard Selley of Imperial College
London, claims that if average summer temperatures
in the UK continue to rise as predicted, some parts
which currently contain many vineyards, will be
too hot to support wine production within the next
75 years.
Instead, Professor Selley says, this land could
be suitable for growing raisins, currents and sultanas,
currently only cultivated in hot climates such as
North Africa and the Middle East.
However, he adds that vast areas of the UK
including Yorkshire and Lancashire will be able to
grow vines like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
which are currently cultivated in warmer climates
like the South of France and Chile.
Different grape varieties flourish in different
temperatures, and are grouped into cool, intermediate,
warm and hot grape groups. For the last 100 years
'cool' Germanic grape varieties have been planted
in British vineyards to produce wines like Riesling.
In the last 20 years some 'intermediate' French grape
varieties have been successfully planted in southeast
England, producing internationally prize-winning
sparkling white wines made from Pinot Noir, Pinot
Meunier and Chardonnay.
Combining temperature predictions with his own research,
Professor Selley predicts that these cool and intermediate
grape varieties will be confined to the far north
of England, Scotland and Wales by 2080, with 'warm'
and 'hot' varieties seen throughout the midlands
and south of England, says the report by Eurekalert.
"My previous research has shown how the northernmost
limit of UK wine-production has advanced and retreated
up and down the country in direct relation to climatic
changes since Roman times, says the author.
"Now, with models suggesting the average annual
summer temperature in the south of England could
increase by up to five degrees centigrade by 2080,
I have been able to map how British viticulture could
change beyond recognition in the coming years. Grapes
that currently thrive in the south east of England
could become limited to the cooler slopes of Snowdonia
and the Peak District."
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