With temperatures set to continue rising, reaching +4°C by 2100, global warming is a reality in Champagne. The seasons are less marked, the harvest is 18 days earlier, the grapes are sweeter and the balance of the wines has changed...
To preserve the identity of the Champagne vineyard, while developing its resistance, the appellation has decided to invest heavily in research.
And it starts in the vineyard. A bioclimatic greenhouse, uniting Beaujolais, Burgundy and Champagne in their research projects, will see the light of day at the end of 2024 in the commune of Blancs-Coteaux, south of Epernay.
Named "Qanopée", this 4,500m² confined, pressurized greenhouse will feature cutting-edge technology. It will enable new clones and rootstocks to be introduced into the vineyard very rapidly, and will also accommodate new research-generated grape varieties that are resistant to drought or leaf diseases.
At the same time, new devices such as cameras, sensors, drones and GPS beacons should soon enable early detection of vine diseases such as flavescence dorée, incurable jaundice or court-noué.
In order to guarantee sustainable volumes, the Champagne winegrowers' union has approved the adoption of the Voltis hybrid grape variety, naturally resistant to mildew and powdery mildew, on an experimental basis for 10 years, as well as the planting of semi-broad vines.
The spacing between vines makes it possible to lower the vineyard's planting density, cut labor costs, reduce inputs, increase resistance to spring frosts and preserve acidity in the grapes.
On an individual scale, each farm is also invited to carry out a soil survey. Knowing the resistance and resilience of your soil will enable you to make judicious technical choices in terms of planting material, cultivation practices and management methods.
In the winery, the drop in acidity induced by the effects of global warming can be corrected by a specific selection of indigenous yeasts, desugaring musts, stopping malolactic fermentation or acidifying wines.
To adapt to tomorrow's climate without betraying the identity of the Champagne terroir, winegrowers, cooperatives and wineries have several powerful levers at their disposal, which they can activate in the short, medium and long term.
Cheers and see you soon for a new article!
