It was a hot one last summer , The European State of the Climate report released today reveals that Europe encountered its hottest summer ever in 2022 .

Visiting vineyards and cellars in eastern France last year was some what concerning to say the least , Hot caves , parched vineyards and stressed vines ,what effect will the stress of heat have on the short term viability and survival of the vines and the wine industry in general. In the region in which I live ( Swiss alps ) the change is remarkable , A lack of snow along with the unusually warm summer caused record melting of Alpine glaciers, which lost more than 5 cubic kilometres of ice – equivalent to dropping in height by 3.5 metres.

A lot of trees and vines died last year due to stress of heat and lack of water . Western Europe, in particular recorded unprecedented high temperatures and low rainfall – 10 per cent less than average – led to widespread drought, resulting in the second lowest river flow and the second largest wildfire burn area on record for Europe.

More worringly numerical weather prediction models aligns with the overall trend of global heating, indicating that the previous eight years have been the warmest on record worldwide.

The record-breaking summer temperatures in Europe had significant impacts on vineyards across the continent. In some regions, such as Champagne in France, vineyards experienced drought conditions that impacted grape quality and yields. The heatwave also accelerated grape maturation, leading to an earlier than usual harvest.

In Italy, vineyards in Tuscany and Sicily faced challenges due to the heatwave, with some vineyards experiencing sunburn on grapes and vines. The high temperatures also affected the ripening process, leading to earlier harvests and lower yields.

Spain's wine regions, including Rioja and Ribera del Duero, were also affected by the heatwave, which led to reduced yields and smaller grapes. Some vineyards resorted to irrigation to combat the drought conditions, which impacted the taste and character of the grapes.

Winemakers will need to adapt to the changing climate to ensure the future of their industry.

Full report here