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How does the weather influence the quality of a wine?

Categories : About wine
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The impact of climate on vintages: how does weather influence wine quality ?

Every year, nature leaves its mark on the vineyards. Behind the label of a wine, the vintage (year of harvest) plays a major role in the product's identity. And while some terroirs benefit from regular conditions, the majority of wine-growing regions are subject to climatic variations temperature, sunshine, rain, frost or drought. All these factors influence the quality, structure, maturity and ageing potential of a wine. Here's how the weather shapes a vintage.


1. What is a vintage ?

The vintage refers to thegrape harvest year. It therefore reflects the climatic conditions of that period, from flowering to harvest. Unlike a multi-millennium blend, a vintage wine captures the exact imprint of the wine year.


2. The major climatic stages of a wine cycle

Each phase of the vine cycle is influenced by the weather. These events determine grape quality, which means wine:

a. Spring (March to May)

  • Key to flowering and fruit set.

  • Major hazards : late frosts, rains during flowering → drop in yield, coulure.

b. Summer (June to August)

  • Phase ripening and veraison (change in berry color).

  • Need: warmth, sun.

  • Risks : drought, heatwave, hailstorms.

c. Autumn (September to October)

  • Period of harvest weather influences final maturity.

  • Risks: heavy rains, grey rot, loss of sugar/acidity balance.


3. Climatic impact on wine quality

Climatic conditions

Effects on grapes

Effect on wine

Spring cold/frozen

Fewer clusters

Less yield, more concentration

Hot, dry summer

Rapid ripening, concentration

Powerful wines, rich in alcohol

Cool summer

Slow ripening, preserved acidity

Cooler wines, good ageing potential

Rainy autumn

Dilution, decay

Less expressive wines, unbalanced acidity

Ideal conditions

Slow, complete ripening

Balanced, expressive wines, long potential


4. A few emblematic examples

  • Bordeaux 2005, 2010, 2016 warm, well-balanced years → powerful, ageworthy wines.

  • Burgundy 2014 fresh, taut vintage → great aromatic finesse, good freshness.

  • Rhone Valley 2003 extreme heatwave → sunny, sometimes unbalanced wines.

  • Alsace 2010 ideal conditions for whites → controlled acidity, superb evolution.

So, with equal terroir, two vintages can produce radically different wines, the result is a wine of great style and ageing potential.


5. Climate change and its impact on recent vintages

With the global warming, we observe :

  • Earlier and earlier harvests,

  • A higher alcohol content,

  • A lower acidity in certain grape varieties,

  • A narrowing of the gap between "large" and "small" vintages thanks to regular hot summers.

But it also comes with new challenges for winegrowers :

  • Managing freshness in whites,

  • Adapt pruning and shading practices,

  • Anticipate extreme events (hail, late frost, drought).


6. And what about the consumer? How can you take this into account in your cellar ?

a. Choosing the right vintages for ageing

Some vintages are built to last. It is essential to take this into account when building your cellar, especially for :

  • The great Bordeaux and Burgundy reds,

  • Sweet wines (which depend on autumn mists),

  • Vintage champagnes.

b. Use a cellar suitable for ageing

Once in the cellar, the wine must be kept under stable conditions :

  • Constant temperature (12-14°C),

  • Controlled humidity (60-75%),

  • Protection against light and vibration.

Ageing cellars Climadiff provide the optimum environment for the best vintages to express their full potential their full potential.


Conclusion

Every vintage tells a climatic story. From spring rain to autumn sunshine, everything influences the quality of the grapes and therefore the profile of the wine. For discerning wine-lovers, tracking vintages not only helps to better bottle selection, but alsoanticipate their evolution. Provided, of course, that they are kept in a perfectly controlled cellar.

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