Film Summary: Global Climate Change / Wine

 Climate change is affecting the culture and economics of wine on a global scale.

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 Global climate change, we have heard about it on the evening news, we read about it in the paper, we talk about it over latte. We are today facing a challenge, a global challenge, a challenge that could alter the fate of humanity and life on the planet. 

So, what do we need to understand about global climate change? How does it impact us personally?

 Understanding climate change and the potential impacts on natural and human-based systems has become increasingly important. Observed warming trends have been found to be asymmetric with respect to seasonal and diurnal cycles with greatest warming occurring during the winter and spring and at night. Changes in temperatures exert strong influences on virtually every form of agriculture.

 The importance of understanding climate change impacts on agriculture is most evident with viticulture where many years of experience has resulted in the finest wines being made from grapes grown in geographically distinct regions. Wine grapes are grown in temperate climates and wines are obsessively tasted and rated for quality and are a particularly good indicator of changes that are affecting other crops in nearly every region of the world.

 Grapevines are generally grown under conditions that are considered marginal for most agricultural production. Given that high quality wines are generally associated with optimum climatic conditions in any given vintage, certain questions arise: what is the direction and magnitude of climatic changes in top wine regions, what effects has climate change had on wine quality in the past, and what affects may climate change bring in the future?

 Future climate change scenarios indicate a very likely average warming of 2°C over the next 50 years with wine producing regions becoming more or less productive for high quality wines. Climate modeling predicts this 2°C temperature rise is likely to make cool growing regions better producers of some grape varieties and already warm wine regions less hospitable for viticulture. Warmer temperatures are already allowing wine grapes to be grown at higher latitudes and elevations - places that were once too cold.

Along with the climate and grape-growing changes, there are also bound to be shifts in the thinking of people of the wine growing regions, There is a huge historical and cultural identity associated with wine production, especially in Europe but growing elsewhere today. A region known for a superb quality and certain wine styles, might need to shift to another variety, changing the cultural identity that has developed over centuries. In addition, changes in cultural identity for a region could be followed by shifts in the economics of that region and the pricing and availability of classic varietals worldwide.

 While it is clear that improvements in grape growing and wine-making technology have produced better wines, climate will always be the wild card in determining year to year variations in quality. This film will seek to examine the affects of global climate change on viticulture and wine. How climate change is affecting the quality, culture and availability of wines enjoyed today and in the future and how climate change is altering the economics of wine regionally and globally.

2 Degrees Above Normal

Ashland, OR

(541) 482-5179

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