|
|
Château La Tour Carnet in Bordeaux artificially exposes a vineyard to higher temperatures to simulate the conditions of the 2050 vintage. To do this, heat cables normally used in aeroplanes are used to warm the vines. The higher temperature in the juice stream accelerates the growth of the vines. Thus, according to the calculations, the harvest will start 15 days to three weeks earlier than today, which corresponds to the models for the middle of the century.
Already in 2013, an experimental vineyard was planted on La Tour Carnet with 84 different grape varieties, which are vinified separately. Julien Lecourt, plant scientist and head of the research and development department at Maison Bernard Magrez said that so far he has identified 21 varieties that could be of interest. Among them are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot as well as Carménère, Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional.
Here, Lecourt evaluates disease tolerance, yield, aromaticity as well as acid profile and sugar accumulation of the varieties. "We have the ambition to make a Grand Cru-style wine from every single variety we mine. With some it is impossible because they will never ripen. But the ones that aren't suitable now, we might use in 20 or 50 years because conditions change drastically." Owner Bernard Magrez, who owns Château Pape Clément among others, is also funding a PhD position at the University of Bordeaux to study how vineyards adapt to climate change.
(al / Source: decanter; Photo: Maison Magrez/La Tour Carnet)
More on the topic:
Spanish sector organisations fund twelve climate change projects
"Too much Merlot in Bordeaux"