Red Dawn: English Wine and Climate Change

Wine Blast with Susie and Peter

A new report predicts climate change will see English red wine becoming the norm rather than the exception as part of a global shift that will upend the world's wine map as we know it.
It's a tough one to get your head around.
On the one hand, these are exciting times for English winemakers.
On the other, climate change represents an existential threat to humanity. Plus, although rising temperatures making wine more viable and diverse in the UK, climate change is also bringing unpredictability, extreme events, and new pests and diseases, among many other challenges.
It's also proving a major threat to existing wine regions, especially warmer, drier ones.
In this bumper episode, we cross-examine the report's author, viti-climatologist Dr Alistair Nesbitt, in a fascinating interview.
We then follow up with some uncompromising views from the vineyard courtesy of Gusbourne's Charlie Holland, Balfour's Fergus Elias, Tillingham's Ben Walgate and Adrian Pike of Westwell.
We keep things chipper and upbeat as we discuss the everything from climate change to the torrid 2022 vintage, the prospect of 'great English Riesling', rosé, the future of appellations (and the controversial Sussex PDO), wine in Scotland, qvevri...and of course the thorny issue of price.
Along the way we somehow manage to turn the episode into an extended movie pitch for various concepts, from a wino's Dr Who to a Riesling Show-Down and even a 'wild western'. It's....refreshingly different (and all makes sense once you listen).
Click here to link through to Dr Alistair Nesbitt's paper: Climate change projections for UK viticulture to 2040: a focus on improving suitability for Pinot Noir
All details from this episode, together with photos to help set the scene, are on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S4 E4 - Red Dawn: English Wine and Climate Change.
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Either way, thanks for popping in. This show is for everyone. Cheers to you!

Chapters

1. How can climate change be painted as a positive?! (00:00:09)

2. 'We're in an almost perverse situation...' (00:00:50)

3. Dr Alistair Nesbitt and his new research - a brief intro (00:01:05)

4. The plan for this episode (00:01:46)

5. The 2022 English harvest (00:02:22)

6. Question from listener Jon (00:03:06)

7. Dr Alistair Nesbitt - background (00:04:57)

8. Dr Alistair Nesbitt - interview (00:07:13)

9. Recap of Alistair Nesbitt's research on the future of English wine given climate change (00:23:25)

10. Staying 'climate agile' and the future of appellations...inc Sussex PDO (00:24:39)

11. Future grape varieties for the UK - including Riesling?! (00:26:55)

12. A new trend for premium English rosé? (00:28:21)

13. Sales of English wine on the up (00:29:01)

14. Interview with Charlie Holland, Gusbourne (00:30:58)

15. On the commercial potential for English still wine (00:36:11)

16. English wine's Third Act (00:37:20)

17. Interview with Fergus Elias, Balfour (00:38:25)

18. On the thorny issue of pricing (00:42:28)

19. Interview with Ben Walgate, Tillingham (00:44:31)

20. Interview with Adrian Pike, Westwell (00:49:48)

21. Final recap (00:53:57)