UK may become major producer of Chardonnay

Model predictions for the vintage score of Chardonnay
still wine across the UK in 2040-2059

One-fifth of the UK may have suitable weather by mid-century to grow Chardonnay grapes for still wines, according to a recent research study. Here is the study published in Oeno.  

Chardonnay is already successfully and extensively grown to produce sparkling wine, and in some years some still wine. These latest forecast temperature increases indicate the increasing opportunity for more Chardonnay production in some areas. 

The impact of climate change by 2050 may mean that UK-grown Chardonnay grapes will be ripe enough to produce high-quality still wines. Following their model of the effect of variation in weather on Chablis wine quality, in France, researchers at the University of Reading turned their attention to conditions in the UK and how they are projected to change.

The research model considered three aspects of weather that affect the quality of Chardonnay still wine: mean temperature between April and September, mean minimum temperature in September (“cool night index”), and total rainfall between June and September. The model identified 20 to 25% of UK land that may be suitable by 2050. This compares to the current suitability of only 2% of UK land.

Areas most likely to have the best conditions for producing high-quality still Chardonnay wine reliably by 2050 include South East England, East of England, and Central England. 

This is an intermediate greenhouse gas emissions scenario in which climate policies can limit global temperature rise to between 2 °C and 3 °C by 2100. Under this scenario, emissions continue to rise until around 2040, and then decline. 

But I don't believe that we will be able to slow climate change down, and I believe warming will accelerate. I am very glad we planted a row of Chardonnay. When the s__t hits the fan, it will be more tolerable as we'll be drinking wine.