Take to the Higher Ground

..in Spain!

Climate change is forcing winemakers in Spain to consider moving their vines to higher ground to escape the heat. Spain, which has more acres of vineyard than any other country in the world, is the driest in Europe. Yes, grape vines love the sun. But too much heat is harmful to the proper ripening of the grapes as long heat waves rob the grapes of sugar. Spanish vintners must choose between an early harvest that produces wine with the right amount of alcohol but is still "green" or a later one in which the grapes produce a better quality wine but have more alcohol.

One possible solution is planting vines in a higher altitude—which means vines suffer less from the heat and the nights are cooler, which allow the grapes to ripen better.

Wine expert Lionel Gourgue believes that a shift to higher ground would be a return of good sense. "The vine has always been planted on the hillsides. But in the 1980s, mistakes were made, and we planted them anywhere."

Yes, Spain learned from their mistakes--and wine lovers are grateful!