Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/221505
Changing Climate and the Evolution of Grape-Growing G reg Jones, Professor of Environmental Studies at Southern Oregon University, is the most widely known climate scientist working with the wine industry. Actually, he's the only one. Jones helps vineyard owners understand their sites' potential and risks. "Assessing a new property, you might view it only a year or two and can't feasibly understand where frost pockets or heat accumulation develop, where wind or water logging issues might appear," he told THE TASTING PANEL in Oregon recently. Through climate modeling Jones can predict growing seasons. "We establish a suite of information about what varieties should be grown, the potential outcomes of sugar ripeness, acid levels, ph, berry sizes and yields, thereby creating a phenology calendar." He's conducted this climatebased research extensively in Oregon's Umpqua and Rogue valleys and in China, and spent ten months in Portugal's Douro, among other regions. This begs the million-dollar question: Can climate change actually affect vineyards? "Agriculturalists adapt tactically to climate year in and year out, they just don't recognize it," Jones points out. Grape growers may inherently modify farming techniques over time, but adaptation is the key to success. "There is adaptive potential in both vine systems and human systems," Jones says. However, everyone knows plants are easier to manage than people. "The adage of north-south rows in hot regions should be re-examined. You should be going southeast to northwest in a hot region, so you can leave leaves on the southern facing and take leaves off on the other side." Small changes like that can bring long-term benefits. Jones notes there is also considerable work being done genetically with rootstocks that can better manage pests, saline soil and temperature fluctuations, not to mention that vineyardists in warming climates might consider planting varieties already grown in extremely warm regions elsewhere. —Michael Cervin Climate scientist Greg Jones is listed as one of Decanter magazine's "50 Most Influential People in the World of Wine." PHOTO: MICHAEL CERVIN TP1213_001-33.indd 21 11/22/13 8:38 PM