Bad Weather Affects This Year's Wine Harvest

This summer is a typical example of global climate change. It has been much cooler than usual, often downright cold, while there has been a lot of rain, which has led to increased grain and diluted fruit, the financial site penzcentrum.hu reports.

It is unlikely to be the best vintage of the decade, but in competent hands, there will certainly be some very nice batches, winemaker Bence Bodor told the portal in an interview. He also talked about another major problem in the sector, the lack of manpower, and the change in consumption habits.

"Over the last decade, I think we have all experienced the effects of global climate change, regardless of our occupation. Of course, we winemakers are confronted with the advantages and disadvantages more intensively every day," he said.

On the one hand, as far as red wine varieties are concerned, the extended growing season allows the grapes to ripen better. A good vintage produces wines with a very special Mediterranean flavor, thanks to the abundant sunshine. Divine acidity and fruity flavors predominate. "In the Villány wine region, we can now safely say that the climate is Mediterranean. In our garden, the leander trees, several meters tall, bloom until the end of October, and banana palms in the surrounding villages have been overwintering for years without any problems. This is one side. Another is the development of extreme weather conditions, which causes a lot of damage, problems and headaches in the sector. Increasingly, there are heavy and sudden rainfalls, intense cold following early bud break, tropical storms and ice. We and our local grape varieties are also challenged by extreme heat waves and the high levels of UV radiation they bring," he added.

In addition to the physical damage, there is a risk of fungal infections and, over time, the emergence of unprecedented insects and other species that we need to protect against. This will obviously increase cultivation costs, as will more frequent crop failures.

This summer is a typical example of global climate change. It has been much cooler than usual, often downright cold, with a lot of rain, which has caused the grains to swell, the fruit to become waterlogged and dilute. This can be a good thing for white wines and rosés, as it leads to high acidity and the alcohol level didn't go through the roof. Red wine varieties, on the other hand, have not benefited from this season due to a less than ideal berry/skin ratio. Diplomatically, I would say that this is unlikely to be the best vintage of the decade, but in capable hands there will certainly be some very fine wines, the winemaker explained.