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[EN VIDÉO] Global warming: our planet in unknown territory In the preliminary version – which only covers the first nine months of 2021 – of its annual State of the Global Climate report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirms the trend of global warming. For the first time, the bar of a rise of 1°C compared to pre-industrial averages has been crossed over the period of the last twenty years. But the report above all highlights the many extreme weather phenomena that have occurred in 2021 and their consequences for the planet and for humanity. © World Meteorological Organization
The weather report remarkably hot and dry end of spring and beginning of summer 2022 has a major impact on viticulture, in the south as well as in the north. The vines are plants that do not need a large amount of water, and these plants adapt very well to a hot and relatively dry summer season. But with a -88% rainfall deficit nationwide, the drought of this month of July 2022 is a record and the vines can no longer adapt. ” In general, warming isn’t a problem here, but this year’s lack of water is starting to get worrying. We, the winegrowers, we can adapt and change the date of our harvest, but the vine can no longer adapt, nature needs time”, entrusts Eric Boigelot, winemaker on a nine-hectare estate in Meursaultin the Côte-d’Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
the grape consists of 75% water, and just like the fact that trees lose their leaves in the event of drought to protect themselves and preserve their reserves, the vine releases its fruits. ” It is a protective mechanism to allow the plant to survive. If there is not enough water, the plant chooses to sacrifice its grapes to avoid dying. The fruit is blocked in its maturity, it does not grow any more and then it begins to wither. This is what will happen in Burgundy if there is no water by August 20. If that happens, we can’t do anything, we’re completely blocked.” explains the winemaker.
Earlier and earlier harvests
The south of France, in a state of extreme drought, is strongly affected. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, many wine estates are starting their harvest this week, a historically early start. But in the south of France, winegrowers generally have the right to practice “drop by drop”, a watering technique that keeps the plant alive. However, this practice is not authorized in Burgundy. The problem is that with the heat and dryness, the degree ofalcohol quickly becomes too high: in 48 hours, one can take half a degree and beyond 15°, the sugar will not be fermented, this is the problem currently in the south of France, which will perhaps also occur in Burgundy in the coming weeks”, specifies Éric Boigelot. The alcohol content of the wine indeed increases because of the climate, and this also determines the date of the harvest.
Heat waves are indeed known to cause a shift in the harvest period, a phenomenon that has increased in recent years, since heat waves have tripled in the space of 30 years according to Météo France. ” Since 2003, there has been a change. Before, we harvested between September 15 and 20 in Burgundy and if we harvested on September 10, we considered it to be early. For 20 years, we don’t know what to expect anymore, the amplitude is completely crazy, between August 15 and September 15. This year, we planned to harvest on August 27, but in 2003 during the heat wave, we had harvested on August 21st. »
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