Overview
This report projected further warming for Australian wine regions of 0.7-0.9°C by 2030 and 1.6-3.1°C by 2070, with rainfall generally declining in winter and spring. Analysis of 44 vineyard blocks found earlier ripening in 43, driven by warming and non-climatic factors like reduced water, yield loss and management change. A survey of 92 vineyards after the 2009 heatwave found losses depended more on management practices than heat exposure alone. Global comparisons showed Australia would warm less than Northern Hemisphere wine regions. Adaptation options reviewed included varietal selection, breeding, and vineyard ecosystem management. This report is an important part of the suite of Wine Australia reports on climate change; a significant amount of research has been conducted since publication, refer to more recent research and other Wine Australia resources.
Australia and the globe are experiencing rapid climate change. Since the middle of the 20th century, Australian temperatures have, on average, risen by about 1°C with an increase in the frequency of heat-waves and a decrease in the numbers of frosts and cold days. Rainfall patterns have also changed – the northwest has seen an increase in rainfall over the last 50 years while much of eastern Australia and the far southwest have experienced a decline (Australian Bureau of Meteorology 2011).
Abstract
Climate projections for various climatic variables have been calculated for Australia and for selected regions globally. A warming climate is projected for all sites and this varies by region and seasonally. Projections for rainfall vary with most regions likely to have a drier future, while a few are likely to get wetter.
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