Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/580744
{ SOMMjournal.com } 123 { wine science } Climate change is a threat not only to viticulture but to every living system worldwide. We've discussed some general global trends in past issues, but today the focus will be on the effects of climate change on some of the wine regions of California. With increasing temperatures in regions that are already on the brink of being too hot for winegrape production, studies estimate that suitable vineyard area of premium wine production in the U.S. could decrease as much as 81% by the year 2100. According to the Wine Institute's most recent figures, the California wine industry has a $61.5 billion impact on the state's economy, as well as a $121.8 billion impact on the national economy. An 81% reduction in premium wine production sites, most of which are located in California, would have disastrous effects not only the economy of California, but also the nation. TRACKING CLIMATE CHANGE IN CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY Beating the PHOTO COURTESY OF CALIFORNIAWINE INSTITUTE Editor's Note: The effects of climate change on the global wine industry are not at all uniform. Each individual region may suffer its own unique effects, some of which will be described in more detail in subsequent articles in this magazine. This piece highlights the general effects of climate change on the wine regions of California. Since the amount of information available is too vast for a single article, this article highlights major points of interest and we encourage you to read as many of the "selected references" that are listed at the end of this piece for even more details. HEAT by Becca Yeamans-Irwin