European Heat Wave Threatens Vineyards
Richard Ross - July 21, 2005
As temperatures across Europe continue to soar, winemakers are predicting that the conditions for this year's vintage may be as difficult as the record-breaking year of 2003.
Drought is affecting wine regions as far apart as the Loire Valley and Andalucia, following low rainfall throughout the winter and spring. Spain has seen the driest spring conditions for sixty years, while in Portugal, 97% of the country is experiencing severe drought conditions. One of the worst-affected areas is the Alentejo, the important wine-producing region south of Lisbon, where rainfall since October has been at its lowest for more than a century.
In France, the Agriculture Minister, Dominique Bussereau, said there was 'extreme concern' about conditions in his country over the coming months. Italy is facing water shortages too, with the level of the River Po in Tuscany currently at a record low.
However, the extreme conditions have also brought damaging hail storms to parts of northern Italy, destroying vineyard crops, and torrential rain has caused floods in parts of southern Germany. In the Mosel Valley, producers have been concerned about the lack of rainfall in the spring and early summer. Young vines, and those planted on the steepest terraces, have been the worst affected by the drought.
Vines are in particular need of water at this time of year, after flowering, when the plants need to grow and channel their energies into the development of grapes. Excessive summer temperatures can also cause heat stress, forcing the vines to 'shut down' completely, halting the important process of allowing the grapes to ripen and reach maturity. Acidity and sugar levels also become hard for winemakers to control in such heat wave conditions.
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