Wine regions around the world are feeling the impacts of climate change on grape yields and wine quality.

As part of the geography MA speaker series, Geography Professor and CCOVI fellow Tony Shaw will discuss climate change and how it relates to Canada’s wine regions.

In Canada’s geographically diverse cool climate wine regions, climate change will most likely produce mixed benefits. These could include longer and warmer growing seasons, a moderation in winter temperatures and the possibility of introducing new but less cold-hardy varieties.

Also, there are favourable prospects to expand into new areas once considered climatically marginal.

These benefits could be thwarted by greater volatility in weather conditions that could threaten the suitability of the existing cool climate varieties on which the industry is established.

Geography professor Tony Shaw.

Analysis of long-term temperature and precipitation data in conjunction with the prediction of global climate models point to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events that could adversely impact grape yields and wine quality. Determining how the climates of these regions have been evolving over the last 45 years is crucial in developing strategies to reduce risks, but also to capitalize on potential benefits.

The event is being held Friday, Oct. 23 from noon to 2 p.m. in Room MC C405.