Miami RedHawks football
OSU vs. OU
Von Maur prepares for opening
Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2006 > March > 28 > Entry
Global warming may wreak havoc on wine regions
Syrah from the Champagne region of France? Ripe, lush Ohio-grown cabernet sauvignon, year in and year out?
Could be, could be.
Global warming could soon wreak havoc on the world’s wine-growing regions, reports Decanter.com. The magazine’s web site warns that, “The world is going to heat to such an extent that Burgundy may no longer be able to grow Pinot Noir.”
So the finest pinots and rieslings and Champagne-style wines of the future could be made in — Norway? Denmark?
Ye gads, I’m going out to buy a Prius.
— I write on the cover of today’s Dayton Daily News business section (page D1) about an advisory letter from the Federal Trade Commission to State Sen. Eric Fingerhut regarding his bill that would amend state law specifically to legalize direct shipment of wine from out-of-state wineries to Ohio consumers. As you’ll see in the advisory letter, the FTC’s Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Competition, Bureau of Consumer Protection, and Bureau of Economics believe that allowing direct wine shipments “would allow Ohio residents to purchase both a greater variety of wines and many wines at lower prices.” And it would do so without boosting underage drinking, the letter says. Thanks to last May’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, such direct-from-winery-to-Ohioans shipments are allowed now if the buyer follows proper procedures and fills out a form, but the bill would codify the legality of the shipments and make some changes in how it’s done.
— And over at Wine Sediments, my colleague Tom Wark writes about the new Macho Wine marketed to Manly Men and wonders what’s next in the niche marketing horizon: wine for Republicans? Lesbians? Or … (shudder) … journalists?
Comments
By Kirk
March 28, 2006 6:14 PM | Link to this
What’s wrong with spreading the weatlh? These “premier” wine-growing regions have had it their way long enough….I say bring on the Alaskan Pinot Noir. I’m investing in vineyards tomorrow….anyone think that’s a smart investment??By Dennis
March 28, 2006 3:38 PM | Link to this
Don’t despair yet. The warming effect will simply move the best cool climate vineyards northward. Pinot Noir from Denmark or Champaigne (sparkling) from Norway or Bordeaux styles from Scotland.By Derrick Schneider
March 28, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
A couple years back, Gastronomica had a similar article about global warming, but it was focused on Germany and Austria. They foresee a time in the not-too-distant future when it will be too warm for gruner veltliner in Austria. Maybe we all need to get used to the overripe wines coming out of CA and Australia!