Nathan Scarlett
Technical Viticulturist - Rathbone Wine Group

Climate change is real (IPCC 2007). This fact has been recently reconfirmed with greater certainty by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2011). The impact of seasonal weather on winegrapes is well understood by viticulturists, hence our obsession over short/long-term weather predictions to help our viticultural planning.  “To state that grape and wine production is highly sensitive to climatic variability is almost a platitude” states Prof. Keller from Washington State University in a fascinating review article on climate change and optimizing fruit development for viticulturists (Keller 2010). RWG vineyards (Yering Station, Mount Langi Ghiran, Parker Coonawarra and Xanadu), other wine companies and the research science community are already planning for climate change and initiating adaptive capability. With continued focus, the future looks bright for continuing our regional wine styles and maintaining the ability to make world class wines. We just need to be smart, progressive and able to rapidly respond to our weather conditions. The aim of viticultural adaptive responses is to maintain vine health and fruit/vineyard site integrity.