Brilliant British Bubbly??!
Cold and damp England is no longer as cold and damp as it used to be. In fact, some areas of England now have exactly the same conditions as Champagne, France did 40 years ago (and for many hundreds of years before that). With warming temperatures worldwide, England and other countries that used to be too cold to produce wine are now able to do so. With more warm days and ideal conditions, England’s wine industry is booming. The country is gearing up to produce 20 million bottles per year by the end of the decade. And in a few years, it’s predicted that England’s sparkling wines will be as good as or even better than French champagne.
The House of Taittinger, one of the most prestigious French champagne makers, has taken note. They started growing French vines in Canterbury, England in 2015 and will release wine from the first crop in 2024.
France, though, isn’t faring so well with the climate changes. Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne and other French wine regions have seen a drastic decline in grape yields in the past few years. Winters are no longer cold enough to wipe out vine disease, buds open too soon and are killed by spring frost, and intense rain produces a fungus which kills the grapes. Renowned wine producers throughout the world are also suffering. Italian wineries are struggling with spring frost, hailstorms and heatwaves. Many Australian vineyards were severely impacted by drought-induced wildfires. And California’s Napa Valley may become too hot to be suitable for the grapes currently grown there.
Vinologists are studying how to adapt to the new conditions. Grapes from warmer countries are now being grown in France to be blended with their merlots, cabernets and other wines, while hopefully maintaining their distinctive tastes. Geneticists are trying to breed new varieties which are more resistant to disease and more tolerant of extreme climate conditions. Winemakers may find ways to continue another 30 years or so. But if climate change keeps accelerating at its current pace, England may need to switch from grapes to oranges and bananas!