HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!
Monday, December 31st, 2007I know I have a tendency to print only the dire accounts of global warming, and I still don’t think it bodes well for our future, but there are some good points about it while it still hasn’t gotten out of hand. Some mighty fine wine is being produced in places that were not conducive to vineyards before!
U.S. New and World Report reported in an article that Canada is producing pinot noir, Belgium, a chardonnay, and England has a sparkling white wine. In the U.S. The Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest ‘has a great future ahead.’
The article went on to say that climate change has affected areas farther away from the equator with greater warmth. Changing climate makes more areas ideal for vineyards. It takes at least 4 years for a small patch of vines to produce decent grapes. Hopefully we’ll conserve, and the weather won’t become too hot or dry before the grapes make it to bottle. What a waste.
It’s a good little article that gives some ideas for a few, new and different wines but references the book The World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson to really get a current worldwide view of the grape! I looked around on the Internet and found the website below that has world wine maps, probably not as current although it does include the latest Canadian vineyards. There should be enough here to give you an excuse to drink a few bottles—just testing of course, and to make for one very, very happy New Year.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/50-ways-to-improve-your-life/2007/12/20/the-wine-warm-up.html