Grape Growers Face Global Warming Challenge

One of Americans’ favorite topics of conversation, the weather, was discussed at length at the opening session of the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento, CA, Tuesday.

The opening session, moderated by Hans Walter-Peterson of Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and a columnist for American/Western Fruit Grower magazine, kicked off with a discussion of global warming from Richard Snyder of the University of California-Davis.

Snyder said that global warming is a long-term problem, but a real problem nonetheless. He said by the end of the century we’re looking at a 4 degree increase in Celsius temperatures.

“It’s a big effect,” he said, “I don’t think you want to take this lightly.”

Snyder noted that during the ice age, temperatures only were reduced by 5 degrees Celsius.

Snyder said there could be some good effects. Carbon dioxide, which plants like, will increase, and crops will mature faster.

But for grapes it means earlier harvesting, which means harvesting in hotter temperatures, which is not good for the California wine grape industry.

“It’s a long way off,” said Snyder, “but your grandchildren will be concerned with this.”

In the short term, winegrape growers in California and throughout the West need to be concerned about drought, said Snyder.

“It has nothing to do with carbon dioxide whatsoever,” he said. “But if you farm in an area with irrigated agriculture, you need to plan — now — for a serious drought.”

Sponsored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers and the American Society of Enology and Viticulture, the Unified conference continues through Thursday.