Decanter

Uncorked

Napa Valley and Bordeaux at tipping point on global warming?

Fresh concerns about a climate ‘tipping point’ for Napa Valley and Bordeaux red wines have been raised by scientists, after analysing temperature and grape data. Writing in the Oeno One journal, researchers said climate data showed a significant increase in average growing season temperatures in both Napa and Bordeaux, particularly since the 1980s.

So far the warmer conditions have generally contributed to better average wine quality, noted the authors, from the University of Bordeaux’s ISVV Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin and UC Davis. However, analysis on five vintages of California Cabernet Sauvignon found that higher sugar levels in grapes could lead to loss

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Decanter

Decanter3 min read
‘There Are So Many Ways To Explain The Varied Appeal Of Rioja’
Rioja is many things: a place, a brand, the birthplace of the Spanish language, a moderately unpronounceable word to non-Spanish speakers, the home of glorious wines. It’s also a wine region that’s still poorly understood. My affection for Rioja runs
Decanter4 min read
Editors Picks
TINA GELLIE It’s always a treat to receive the Annual Vintage Selection case from the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association: 12 reds that show why the free-draining alluvial soils in this patch of New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay are so prized. Master of
Decanter6 min read
US Riesling
Too often, Riesling gets a bad rap. Through much of the 20th century, American bottlings were often confusing. There was little consistency in labelling and wines made using unrelated varieties or distant relatives often adopted the name, such as Gre

Related Books & Audiobooks