Wine provides a very useful insight into climate change. The past 10 years have seen some of the warmest vintages on record, and this is reflected in the fact that areas best known for their Rieslings (a white grape that grows well in cooler climates) are now producing some very respectable reds. Try the Fleischer Dornfelder 2005 (¥254) from The Wine Republic or the Bernard Huber Spätburgunder 2005 (¥994) from ASC Fine Wines. While this is arguably a positive change for German producers, it presents a huge challenge for many other wine regions. The best vineyards in Burgundy produce wines with a delicate balance that can’t be replicated elsewhere. A significant change in average temperature makes it harder to maintain that balance. Warmer wine regions like Australia’s Riverland also face the challenge of insufficient water and excessive temperatures which may drastically reduce the amount of wine produced.

Campbell Thompson, Managing Director of The Wine Republic