We were over in Europe in the summer of 2003, just a few days after the heat wave broke. It was plenty hot even then. In this article from the “FT” from last weekend, the experience of the proprietors of a famous French vineyard, returning early from their holiday, is recalled. “Instead of rows of plump, light golden fruit, the couple found shrunken berries, burnt brown by the sun. ‘We’d never seen anything like it,’ says Christine, a 52-year-old mother of two, who took over the renowned Vernay estate from her father in 1997. She scrambled to arrange a harvest within three days of their return. Even so, the vineyards produced only half its usual volume of wine that year. The grapes were simply too desiccated.” The article looks at a number of concerns of the French wine industry relative to climate change.
We are also apprised of a letter to President Sarkozy from 50 prominent players in the French food and wine industry in which they issue an urgent call to action. See this from “The Telegraph” from August.
Meanwhile, here’s a video from the California wine industry about sustainability. Good stuff.