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Climate change concerns have affected the wine industry. Grapes used for wines and champagnes do not ripen appropriately in excessive heat. The gradual elevations of temperature may change the industry and how it operates.
Any significant damage to the global wine industry could then affect the restaurant and tourism industries as well. The erratic temperature and environment that may be in store for the world over the next 50 years may impact many industries but only the ski industry and the wine industry is as vulnerable to those changes in weather.
Many wine makers worldwide have noticed the problem but are not actively doing anything about it. Others are considering moving vineyards to more hospitable environments where the temperatures are more moderate. Some vineyards have moved to England where the climate is more temperate. In England, the government is also encouraging other adaptations like changing altitudes for growing grapes or pruning plants less which allows the grapes to have more shade.
In South Africa, the industry plans to attempt to decease its carbon footprint. It has created an initiative called Confronting Climate Change to better prepare for a future of carbon constraints and to determine ways to make these changes in the most efficient and least expensive way possible. Electricity use is a large part of the carbon footprint; transportation is the second highest because of the use of fossil fuels in a majority of these activities. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are also a common culprit as nitrous oxide contributes to global warming as well. One of the components of the initiative is a protocol standard and carbon calculator tool for industry members to use to determine the amount of carbon emissions used.
Other wine makers and countries will have to address climate change and the environment in order to continue to have a profitable and booming wine industry.
