Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot noir

Between 1981–2000 and 1999–2018, growing season average temperatures (GST) in the main UK viticulture regions have warmed ~1.0 °C and are now more reliably > 14.0 °C GST. This warming has underpinned the rapid expansion of the UK viticulture sector and its current focus on growing grape varietie...

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Main Authors: Alistair Nesbitt, Stephen Dorling, Richard Jones, Dan K.E. Smith, Marcus Krumins, Kate E. Gannon, Lewis Dorling, Zoë Johnson, Declan Conway
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Viticulture and Enology Society 2022-07-01
Series:OENO One
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oeno-one.eu/article/view/5398
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author Alistair Nesbitt
Stephen Dorling
Richard Jones
Dan K.E. Smith
Marcus Krumins
Kate E. Gannon
Lewis Dorling
Zoë Johnson
Declan Conway
author_facet Alistair Nesbitt
Stephen Dorling
Richard Jones
Dan K.E. Smith
Marcus Krumins
Kate E. Gannon
Lewis Dorling
Zoë Johnson
Declan Conway
author_sort Alistair Nesbitt
collection DOAJ
description Between 1981–2000 and 1999–2018, growing season average temperatures (GST) in the main UK viticulture regions have warmed ~1.0 °C and are now more reliably > 14.0 °C GST. This warming has underpinned the rapid expansion of the UK viticulture sector and its current focus on growing grape varieties for sparkling wine. Near-term (2021–2040) climate change may condition opportunities for further variety and/or wine style changes. Using the latest high-resolution (5 km) ensemble (× 12) of downscaled climate change models for the UK (UK Climate Projections; UKCP18) under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5, we calculate near-term trends and variability in bioclimatic indices (BCIs). We simulate the projected repetition of the UK's highest yielding season —2018— and use an analogue approach to model the 1999–2018 mean growing season temperatures from Pinot noir producing areas of Champagne (France), Burgundy (France) and Baden (Germany) over the UK during 2021–2040. We also project, across the UK for the 2021–2040 period, BCI values of recent high-quality vintage years from Champagne and Burgundy. GST are projected to increase from a 1999–2018 spatial range of 13.0 (minimum threshold)–15.7 °C to a future (2021–2040) range of 13.0–17.0 °C, and Growing Degree Days (GDD) from 850 (minimum threshold)–1267 to 850–1515. Growing season precipitation (GSP) is projected to decline in some UK viticulture areas but is not modelled as a limiting viticulture factor. High inter-annual weather variability is simulated to remain a feature of the UK viticulture climate and early season frost risk is likely to occur earlier. Large areas of the UK are projected to have > 50 % of years within the bioclimatic ranges experienced during the 2018 growing season, indicating potential higher yields in the future. The 1999–2018 mean Champagne, Burgundy and Baden GST and GDD are projected for much of England and some areas in the far south and south-east of Wales during 2021–2040, with significant areas projected to have > 25 % of years within the BCI ranges of top Champagne vintages. These results indicate greater potential for Pinot noir for sparkling wines and shifting suitability to still red wine production. Accounting for changes in variety suitability and wine styles will be essential to maximise opportunities and build resilience within this rapidly expanding wine region.
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spelling doaj.art-d225d6734f4f43f7bf9046d9c5d3852d2022-12-22T01:42:53ZengInternational Viticulture and Enology SocietyOENO One2494-12712022-07-01563Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot noirAlistair Nesbitt0Stephen Dorling1Richard Jones2Dan K.E. Smith3Marcus Krumins4Kate E. Gannon5Lewis Dorling6Zoë Johnson7Declan Conway8Vinescapes Ltd, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6SX - School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ - Weatherquest Ltd, Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, England - Weatherquest Ltd, Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, EnglandWeatherquest Ltd, Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJGrantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics, London, WC2A 2AEWeatherquest Ltd, Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJWeatherquest Ltd, Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJGrantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics, London, WC2A 2AE Between 1981–2000 and 1999–2018, growing season average temperatures (GST) in the main UK viticulture regions have warmed ~1.0 °C and are now more reliably > 14.0 °C GST. This warming has underpinned the rapid expansion of the UK viticulture sector and its current focus on growing grape varieties for sparkling wine. Near-term (2021–2040) climate change may condition opportunities for further variety and/or wine style changes. Using the latest high-resolution (5 km) ensemble (× 12) of downscaled climate change models for the UK (UK Climate Projections; UKCP18) under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5, we calculate near-term trends and variability in bioclimatic indices (BCIs). We simulate the projected repetition of the UK's highest yielding season —2018— and use an analogue approach to model the 1999–2018 mean growing season temperatures from Pinot noir producing areas of Champagne (France), Burgundy (France) and Baden (Germany) over the UK during 2021–2040. We also project, across the UK for the 2021–2040 period, BCI values of recent high-quality vintage years from Champagne and Burgundy. GST are projected to increase from a 1999–2018 spatial range of 13.0 (minimum threshold)–15.7 °C to a future (2021–2040) range of 13.0–17.0 °C, and Growing Degree Days (GDD) from 850 (minimum threshold)–1267 to 850–1515. Growing season precipitation (GSP) is projected to decline in some UK viticulture areas but is not modelled as a limiting viticulture factor. High inter-annual weather variability is simulated to remain a feature of the UK viticulture climate and early season frost risk is likely to occur earlier. Large areas of the UK are projected to have > 50 % of years within the bioclimatic ranges experienced during the 2018 growing season, indicating potential higher yields in the future. The 1999–2018 mean Champagne, Burgundy and Baden GST and GDD are projected for much of England and some areas in the far south and south-east of Wales during 2021–2040, with significant areas projected to have > 25 % of years within the BCI ranges of top Champagne vintages. These results indicate greater potential for Pinot noir for sparkling wines and shifting suitability to still red wine production. Accounting for changes in variety suitability and wine styles will be essential to maximise opportunities and build resilience within this rapidly expanding wine region. https://oeno-one.eu/article/view/5398Pinot Noirbioclimatic indicesclimate resilienceclimate adaptationclimate changeviticulture suitability
spellingShingle Alistair Nesbitt
Stephen Dorling
Richard Jones
Dan K.E. Smith
Marcus Krumins
Kate E. Gannon
Lewis Dorling
Zoë Johnson
Declan Conway
Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot noir
OENO One
Pinot Noir
bioclimatic indices
climate resilience
climate adaptation
climate change
viticulture suitability
title Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot noir
title_full Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot noir
title_fullStr Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot noir
title_full_unstemmed Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot noir
title_short Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot noir
title_sort climate change projections for uk viticulture to 2040 a focus on improving suitability for pinot noir
topic Pinot Noir
bioclimatic indices
climate resilience
climate adaptation
climate change
viticulture suitability
url https://oeno-one.eu/article/view/5398
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