Introduction
There are many factors that can effect the taste of wine, and climate is a major one. Grapes grown under different conditions develop characteristics that contribute to the resulting wine’s flavor, aroma and structure. We have talked at length about how the climate affects wine styles but wines are not only more appreciable when you have some comprehension behind your selections. Climate is one of the compelling variables that affect the taste of wine.
Temperature and Grape Ripening
- Cold Climates: In harsher climates grapes take their time to ripen, keeping acidity levels in check and resulting in wines with a clean and fresh flavor. These are often lower in alcohol with higher acidity, showing bright fruit nuances and complexity akin to a ladybug. Rieslings from Germany and Pinot Noir from Burgundy, for example.
- Hot Climates: These will result in more sugar, as the regions that are sunny and warm ensure the grapes ripen faster. These wines tend to be quite rich with succulent, vibrant fruit flavors along with softer acidity and more full bodied. Grape varieties like robust Shiraz from Australia or Cabernet Sauvignon from California come to mind.
Sunlight and Flavor Development
Grapes need sunlight to photosynthesize and develop sugars and flavors. Hotter regions expose grapes to more sun, ripening them,resulting in more intense flavors. This is what can make those wines seems so fruit driven and bold! On the other hand, cooler climates with shorter growing seasons can actually have less sunlight and it has even been said that these areas produce more restrained, elegant wines with delicate nuanced flavors.
Rainfall and Water Stress
- Decent or Adequate Rainfall: Depending on the location with moderate rainfall; supports healthy vine growth and fruit development. But too much rain on the vine, particularly later in the growing season right before harvest, can have its drawbacks flooding vineyards and diluting flavors while also heightening the risk of molds and mildews.
- Water Stress: Water stress is applied intentionally (as in most drier climates), which causes the vine to regulate its water needs and can help achieve flavor concentration and complexity. It concentrates the wine, as the vines are innately designed to first produce foliage then fruit and when you get limited water from which you want that foliage, what you see is an amplification of character in fine wines.
Soil and Terroir
The climate forms the ground of soils and this comes through in what types of grapes you get. Soils retain heat and water differently which affects vine growth and fruit development. On the other hand, soils rich in limestone in cooler climates can develop acidity and rounder wines, volcanic soils in warmer locations contribute to a mineral character.
Seasonal Variability
Seasonal conditions, like frosts and heatwaves, can have a huge effect on grape quality and volume rendered for that year. The taste of an individual vintage may be quite different to what you expect this is because each vintage reflects the actual conditions that year during the growing season, making years when difficult weather prevails yield challenging wines. This variability helps to set each vintage apart as its own entity, capturing some impression of the climate and weather that year.
Climate Change and Its Impact
Climate change is disrupting established growing regions and changing temperatures, rainfalls patterns, and seasons. Climate change will mean what grew well in one place for generations may no longer be possible, as the temperature continues to rise, forcing wine makers to start so much of it over. Winemakers have had to adapt by looking at different places and vineyard practices as well as varying grape varieties to keep the quality level and the balances that region demands.
Microclimates and Regional Differences
This is the entire concept of microclimates which are localised climate differences within a region and they produce different nuances in the wines built from their variety. These microclimates, influenced by factors such as elevation, closeness to bodies of water and prevailing wind patterns allow for a wide variety of wine styles to be grown within one small region. Coastal Vineyards, such as may benefit from the cooling breezes to help maintain acidity in the grapes.
Conclusion
Weather is the single greatest contributor to how a wine tastes, affecting everything from ripening of grapes, to development of flavors. They explain how temperature, sunlight and rainfall shape a bottle of wine, giving connoisseurs a deeper appreciation for the natural world within each unique bolt ends. As ever more new wine regions open up as traditional zones are no longer possible, winemakers and even many consumers see a season-by-season shift that looks to be upon us now. And so the interconnected worlds of wine and climate work to make the simple act of a sip, an infinite source of discovery and pleasure.
