Wine + Climate Change
Climate change impacts so many aspects of our lives that we may not even realize. That bottle of wine in your fridge might be hard to come by in 50 years. The climate is changing and affecting agriculture worldwide, including wine grape farms in many parts of the world. The wine industry and everyone else must act fast to do what they can to preserve the beautiful earth we live on, and especially the amazing wine we can drink. CO2 emissions affect our climate, and although the wine industry does not produce a lot of it, the industry is directly affected by the changing climate. The wine industry must take accountability and do everything it can to reduce its chances of being destroyed. It is also up to consumers and everyone else on this planet to care about the earth and make a change.
Wine’s Efforts to Thwart Climate Change
Although the looming threat of climate change is daunting, many companies use that as motivation to change the way they operate.
The Spanish company Torres set a goal to reduce CO2 emissions per bottle by 30% by 2020, 50% by 2030, and 80% by 2045. Torres also invests 11% of annual profits into renewable energy, electric cars, water diversity, and biodiversity schemes, including Chile's reforestation.
Another example of companies doing what they can in this time of crisis is Jackson Family Wines. Since 2008, the company has reduced its CO2 emissions per bottle by 33% and its water consumption by 60%. They also work hard to offset their electricity consumption by using renewable energy, ensuring that their grapes are certified sustainable, and achieving zero waste. Companies like these are great role models for other businesses. It is not too difficult to work for a healthier planet, and there are many different ways to go about it.
The Benziger Family based in Sonoma, California also uses climate-friendly practices. It was created in 1980 and takes on a biodynamic, organic, and sustainable approach to winemaking. They generate electricity using solar panels and also use energy-efficient equipment in their wineries. They have also recycled millions of gallons of water and have offered habitat for a multitude of species. The Benziger Family has felt the effects of climate change first hand; they lost a winery in 2017’s wildfires. They also have to cover their vines with shade cloth to prevent them from getting sunburnt. The Benziger Family is leading the wine industry in battling climate change. They created a third-party sustainable vineyard program, which has helped other vineyards become certified organic, sustainable, and biodynamic.
On the flip side, there are many ways that companies are adapting to the change in the climate. Some winemakers are growing grapes in places once considered too cold for fine wines and expanding the map of good places to grow grapes. Producers are also now planting in altitudes that were once considered too high to grow wine grapes. Traditionally grapes would be planted on south-facing hillsides to make sure that the grapes ripen. Now the problem people face is that the grapes are becoming overripe, so they move them to be north-facing and at a higher altitude. These slight changes in growing practices are all thanks to climate change.
In some cases, people do not have the opportunity to change their location, particularly smaller estates. So the next option would be to change their grapes. Changing grapes means leaving behind a certain grape that has history in that specific region, for a more appropriate grape for the changing climate. I am sharing these tidbits with you to show you that climate change's threat and effect is already here. It is already affecting the way farmers have to think about their wine and work. People have to adapt to the changes in the atmosphere.
What to Do…
Now, what can you do about it? You can generally do many things to combat climate change, but here are a few ideas when it specifically comes to wine. You can shop locally; having your wine transported to you and shipped across the world or country can impact climate. It is also important to support local businesses, especially amid a pandemic. Another way is doing research; I have done some research for you here and named a few companies I have found to be very sustainable. But there are a lot more out there. Being a conscientious buyer and making smart choices about where you invest your money is a simple way to help make a difference in people's lives and your own.
There are plenty of places that are taking this climate issue seriously. Because the climate's decline and change will drastically affect the wine industry, more companies must do so. We need to take a stand against climate change and work hard at holding significant contributors accountable. Companies like Torres, the Benziger Family, and Jack Family Wines are big advocates for climate advocacy and within the wine community. Although wine is not a huge contributor worldwide to CO2 emissions and climate change, doing anything you can to combat the rapidly changing climate is good. It is important to support companies and people who align with your views and beliefs. Following your money and realizing your impact on the world when you shop is one of the first steps in combating the climate crisis.
