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Château Montrose in Saint-Estephe is working with climatologist Benjamin Bois and geologist Pierre Becheler on what it claims is the world's first agronomic-soil study on climate change in the vineyard. The aim is to understand how the terroirs will react to climate change by 2050. The data should enable the Château to anticipate future climatic changes with their consequences for the vines and to develop new methods of vineyard management from them.
In preparation for the project, 60 temperature and humidity sensors were installed in the vineyards last March. Their positioning at the same height as the grapes takes into account the respective topographical areas of the vineyard and the characteristics of each plot. This includes the early development of the vines over the course of the year as well as their sensitivity to mildew and drought. The investigation is supplemented by soil samples as well as the analysis of climatic data provided by other sensors.
The results should enable the winery to draw up a map that will be supplemented with other maps and studies of the soil. This, they say, will provide those in charge with detailed information on the future development of the vines in the face of global warming.
(uka / Photo: Wikipedia - Mike Case)