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22 | OHCC LIVING | APRIL 2022 | The impact of climate change on the wine industry has been felt since the mid 1990s. With hotter summers and warmer winters, adjustments are necessary to maintain the quality of wine that consumers expect. There are five areas being addressed by the industry to make sure the quality does not suffer. Temperature, altitude, sunlight reduction, considering different varietals and close monitoring of the weather. Vineyards are being started in locations that were once considered too cool to grow grapes. In England, for instance, there is a growing industry of sparkling wines. The terroir is like the Champagne region, but the temperature was a problem. Vineyards are being started in places with cooler climates such as Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Canada and Northern Germany. As wine production in the northern hemisphere moves northward, in the southern hemisphere it is moving southward in Argentina and Chile. In Catalonia, a global wine producer, Familia Torres has planted vineyards at altitudes of over 3,000 feet in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The daytime temperatures are not necessarily cooler, but the heat doesn't last as long, and the nights are cooler. Higher up, the soil can be poor, water scarce and adverse weather events are possible. In the northern hemisphere, grapes have been planted on hillsides facing southeast to capture the sun so the grapes would ripen fully. With climate change the wine producers now must contend with the grapes ripening too soon. In Australia, growers seek north-facing vineyards and are changing how the rows of vines are placed to protect the grapes from the afternoon sun. Wine producers are changing the type of grape they grow when they don't have the option for climate or altitude changes, when there are no restrictions imposed by appellations. In Bordeaux, the governing body has approved seven grape varieties for experimentation to counteract the impact of climate change. With weather so unpredictable, new methods may need to be attempted. Where water shortages occur, some growers are looking at grafting their vines to more drought-resistant rootstocks. With drought come wildfires, and the smoke can taint the grapes affecting the wine. Technological solutions need to be developed to protect the grapes to assure that the wine is drinkable. From an article by Eric Asimov of the New York Times. Membership in the Wine Tasting Club is open to all residents of OHCC for an annual fee of $12 per person. Wine Tasting Club