SI MPLY FRENC H LIVING
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WINE PRODUCTION
H
ow sad for us. Of course I would say that! That said I hear wine production is down 25-30% in France in this complicated year! Why? What? France’s wine production is said to have dropped 30% this year, to its lowest level in decades, after spring frosts and summer downpours hit vineyards! The Farming Ministry have said, that wine producers have previously projected that frosts may cut French production by a third. This is clearly not good for France or us wine drinkers! The weather is changing rapidly and climate change is now affecting our food and drink chain. Lovers of French wine, just like me will probably have to shell out more for it, as scarcity tends to push up prices. People who work directly or indirectly for the French wine industry may be facing job losses. Environmental factors such as climate change, biological problems, viruses, fungi and bacteria, industry practices and economic constraints, have all led to a serious decline in production at French vineyards, with experts saying the situation has become increasingly dire over the past few decades. Labour costs are also much higher than in other countries such as the USA. Wine exports from France amounted to more than 9 billion euros in 2018. That year, French wine exported to the United States of America represented almost one fifth of the total exports from France! 54
Bordeaux is France’s most famous wine region, and the reference point for Cabernet Sauvignon. However, there’s actually more Merlot (66%) in Bordeaux’s vineyards overall than Cabernet (22.5%). This wine blend mirrors this and its black and redcurrant flavours and aroma are equally classic. In 2019, the U.S. was the top importer of French wine, bringing in $2.1 billion worth of Champagne, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, and Chablis, among other French specialities. France’s neighbour, the United Kingdom, was second with nearly $1.4 billion. Wine exports from France have nearly doubled in less than twenty years. While the total value of exports at the beginning of the century was around 5.49 billion euros, in 2020 it amounted to 8.74 billion euros. My personal favourite is red wine, in particular French Malbec from Cahors and honestly, I didn’t think it was a thing in France! However, France is in fact the place of origin for Malbec, but Argentina is now home to nearly 70% of the Malbec vineyards of the world. Thus, your very first taste of Malbec could have been from Mendoza, Argentina! Malbec is a purple grape variety used in making red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark colour and robust tannins, and are known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine. In France, plantations of Malbec are now found primarily in Cahors in South West France, though the grape is grown worldwide. It is increasingly celebrated as an Argentine varietal.
