Effects of Climate on Grape Varieties
This grape variety thrives in regions with a moderate climate, producing wines with complex aromas, rich flavors, and moderate acidity, often seen in Burgundy and the Loire Valley.
What is Pinot Noir?
This extreme weather event can cause serious damage to grapevines, particularly during the growing season, by breaking branches and stripping leaves from the vine.
What is hail?
This is the general temperature range, in degrees Celsius, that grapevines require for optimal growth and ripening.
What is 16°C to 22°C (60°F to 72°F)?
This is the ideal temperature range for serving most red wines, which allows the flavors to open up while keeping the wine from being too warm.
What is 15°C to 18°C (59°F to 64°F)?
In a cooler climate, this quality of a grape, which helps preserve freshness and balance in wine, is often higher, contributing to a more crisp, lively flavor.
What is acidity?
In cool climates, this effect on grape ripening occurs, leading to longer growing seasons and potentially lower yields but higher acidity and more delicate flavors in the wines.
What is delayed ripening?
This variety prefers warm to hot climates, often resulting in wines with bold fruit flavors and higher alcohol content, and is commonly grown in places like Napa Valley and Australia.
What is Cabernet Sauvignon?
This weather phenomenon, which is particularly common in certain wine regions, can cause rapid cooling, especially at night, and affects the ripening process by increasing the risk of late-season frost.
What is late spring frost?
In a region with a warm climate, this process of ripening, which involves the gradual accumulation of sugars and phenolic compounds, can be accelerated.
What is phenolic ripening?
The wine service practice of decanting is typically done for red wines with this characteristic, helping to separate the sediment and aerate the wine.
What is a full-bodied wine or older red wine?
When a grape variety is grown in a warmer climate, this characteristic tends to be more pronounced, resulting in wines with richer, riper flavors and higher alcohol content.
What is sugar content (leading to higher alcohol)?
The long growing season in moderate climates allows for a more gradual ripening of grapes, which leads to wines with this balanced characteristic.
What is balanced sugar and acidity?
This white variety is known for its ability to thrive in cool climates, producing wines with crisp acidity, high freshness, and citrus flavors, typically grown in regions like the Loire Valley and New Zealand.
What is Sauvignon Blanc?
A prolonged dry period, often associated with climate change, can lead to reduced vine vigor, smaller berries, and lower yields, ultimately affecting the quality of wine.
What is drought?
Vines in a cool climate typically have this characteristic in their wines, which is often associated with higher acidity and more delicate fruit flavors.
What is higher acidity?
This is the appropriate temperature range for serving most white wines, which allows their acidity and fresh flavors to be properly expressed.
What is 7°C to 10°C (45°F to 50°F)?
In cooler climates, this grape characteristic is more likely to be pronounced, contributing to wines with a lighter body and more subtle fruit flavors.
What is tannin?
In hot climates, this can become a concern, as grapes may over-ripen and lose their natural acidity, resulting in wines with higher alcohol and less freshness.
What is premature ripening or over-ripening?
This red grape variety is sensitive to temperature changes and often struggles in cooler climates; however, in hot climates, it can produce high tannin levels and high alcohol wines.
What is Syrah (Shiraz)?
This climatic event, when temperatures fall below freezing during the spring or early autumn, can destroy unripe grapes, significantly damaging the potential harvest.
What is a frost?
If a vine is exposed to excessively high temperatures during the growing season, this phenomenon can occur, where the vine essentially shuts down its photosynthesis process to prevent damage.
What is vine stress?
This type of wine glass, typically used for serving sparkling wines, is designed to concentrate the bubbles and maintain the wine’s effervescence.
What is a flute glass?
When a grape variety is grown in a warmer climate, this grape characteristic, which affects mouthfeel and texture, tends to be more prominent in wines, contributing to a fuller body and rounder taste.
What is alcohol?
In regions with cooler climates, this type of seasonal weather pattern, which includes cooler summer temperatures and early autumn, can result in higher acidity and more complex flavors in wines.
What is a late harvest or extended ripening period?
This grape variety is particularly well-suited to warmer climates, such as the southern Rhône and parts of California, where it can achieve full ripeness and produce wines with rich, spicy notes.
What is Grenache?
This condition, which causes the fermentation process to slow or stop due to a lack of oxygen, can occur when wet, cool weather prevents proper ripening and leaves the vines susceptible to disease.
What is botrytis (noble rot)?
The temperature difference between day and night in a vineyard, particularly in warmer climates, can influence the concentration of acids and sugars in the grapes, and this difference is called this.
What is diurnal range?
This step in wine service involves removing the foil and cutting the cage before opening a sparkling wine bottle, using a method that minimizes risk.
What is opening a sparkling wine bottle with the cork facing away from guests?
Grapes grown in warmer climates tend to ripen more quickly, leading to an earlier harvest, which can result in this kind of flavor profile, often associated with wines that are more intense and powerful.
What is fruit-forward or jammy flavors?
In extremely hot climates, grapes may experience this phenomenon, which can lead to raisins or dried grapes on the vine, affecting the final wine style.
What is sunburn or dehydration?