California's vineyards could be in trouble as global temperatures increase.
A new review published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment by researchers at the National School of Agricultural Engineering in Bordeaux France found that 70 percent of all current wine-producing regions on the globe could be hugely affected if temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celcius (or 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
"Climate change is affecting grape yield, composition and wine quality. As a result, the geography of wine production is changing," the authors write in the study.
Wine-growing regions, particularly those in California, are usually located in areas of mid-latitude, the study reported. However, the suitability of these regions for wine production is decreasing.
Following a review of each continent and their wine-producing regions, the study authors found a "substantial risk of unsuitability" for wine production for 49 percent to 70 percent of existing wine regions.
This depends on how much the globe warms, however; 29 percent could experience increased heatwaves and prolonged droughts, which would drastically hinder wine production.
A huge chunk of Southern California, as well as regions in Spain, Italy and Greece, could "face high loss of suitability the end of the century" if the globe sees the 2 degrees Celcius of warming, the review said. These are all areas that could be susceptible to increased heatwaves and drought periods.
"If global warming exceeds 2 °C, coastal California will transition to a very
warm and arid climate for viticulture, probably resulting in a decline
in wine quality and economic sustainability," the authors write. "Overall, the net suitable area for wine production in California could decline by up to 50% by the end of the twenty-first century."
California has already seen the effects of a warming climate. It has only recently emerged from a prolonged drought that caused havoc in the region, causing water shortages and difficulties in producing crops.
California accounts for 85 percent of all wine production in the U.S. because the state has the best climate for producing wine due to its warm temperatures. However, excessive heat could certainly mean bad things for production.
It may be that the U.S. has to adjust its wine production as the climate warms. The review stated that the remaining 41 percent of existing wine regions at risk will all depend on adaption.
Some, around 11 to 24 percent, may also see enhanced production as other areas become more unsuitable, the study reports. Washington state, for example, may see greater production.
The authors stress however that the degree of all these changes "will strongly depend on the level of temperature rise."
"Existing producers can adapt to a certain level of warming by changing plant material (varieties and rootstocks), training systems and vineyard management," the authors write. "However, these adaptations might not be enough to maintain economically viable wine production in all areas. Future research should aim to assess the economic impact of climate change adaptation strategies applied at large scale."
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