Europe-Wide Trend
Global warming is bringing an increase in average temperatures to all regions of the planet. Winemakers all over the world must learn to live with this problem.
Basically, they have two options. Either change to a more thermophilic variety or move their vineyards to cooler locations.
This has already been started by the world-famous French winegrowers, who are buying land in the Southern England to start growing grapes there.
By contrast, Poland, which has never been a wine-growing power, is only now starting to grow vines. South Moravian winegrowers are helping to plant new vineyards there with their experience.
Poland could soon become Europe's next wine-growing power. It has even applied for the status of a wine-producing country, which would have been virtually impossible in the past.
Thanks to its location, South Moravia has the potential to become one of the most popular locations for growing grapes.
Wines that a few years ago were grown exclusively on the sunny and warm slopes of southern France can now be grown in South Moravia.
It is not for nothing that winemakers from South Moravia win prestigious awards at international competitions.
The Impact of Warming on Wine
Higher temperatures are having a major impact on the vines themselves. Dry and hot summers give the vines higher sugar content and, on the other side, lower acidity, which has long been a characteristic feature of wines from South Moravia.
Some wineries have even had to take the unprecedented step of acidifying certain varieties of wine.
Paradoxically, thanks to global warming, South Moravian wines can be expected to reach the level of wines from regions such as southern France, Italy or Spain.
FAQ
How does global warming affect wine?
Dry and hot summers give vines a higher sugar content and lower acidity, the long-time characteristic of South Moravian wines. Some wineries have even had to acidify certain varieties.
What can winemakers do about rising temperatures?
They basically have two options: switch to a more thermophilic variety or move their vineyards to cooler locations. French winegrowers are already buying land in southern England.
Why could South Moravia become a wine power?
Thanks to its location, it has the potential to become one of the most popular grape-growing locations. Wines once grown only on the sunny slopes of southern France can now be grown there.
Where are most Czech vineyards?
In South Moravia, which has over 90 percent of all vineyards, most of them in the Břeclav district. The Czech Republic has more than 20 thousand hectares of vineyards.
Vineyards as Far as the Eye Can See
There are more than 20 thousand hectares of vineyards in the Czech Republic. This is almost two and a half times more than fifty years ago.
Over 90 % of all vineyards are in South Moravia. Most of them are in the Břeclav district. The most commonly grown variety of South Moravian wines is Grüner Veltliner.
The average Czech drank almost 17 litres of wine per year in 2016. This is almost 6 litres more than he or she drank in 1989.
