Building Climate Change Resilience in Pinot Noir Grower Communities Through Knowledge and Data Exchange: A Research Proposal
Alistair Nesbitt
Steve Dorling
Kerrie Lyons
Climate change in established Pinot Noir producing regions is changing grapevine phenology and grape ripening profiles and, without viticultural adaptation, is likely to affect ‘traditional’ wine styles beyond ‘normal’ vintage variation. Climate change also threatens the cultural identities and economies of associated wine production regions. Using our combined viticulture practice and climate science expertise we aim to establish historic climatic variables that impact the production and style of Pinot Noir in a range of established regions using a combination of climate and vintage data modelling (quantitative research) and producer knowledge exchange (qualitative research). Using the latest climate change scenarios we then aim to model climate change projections for those same regions to: a) illustrate the projected future growing season climate trends and variability, b) inform the likely repetition of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ years to 2050, and c) develop a climate risk matrix for future Pinot Noir production in those regions. Subsequently we will identify viticulture techniques that could afford means of buffering or adapting to different climate change scenarios and present this, via a Wiki (a web-based collaborative platform; ‘PN-Hub’), as a climate-risk mitigation toolkit for growers. Focus topics could include, for example: budburst modelling, heat mitigation and climatic hazards in PN production areas around the world.
The aim of this proposed approach is to help strengthen climate change resilience in Pinot Noir producing regions by linking data science with producer communities to enhance risk management and offer mitigation support. We hope we can both inform and build a network of Pinot Noir growers who share best practice about techniques that help increase resilience to climate change threats and adopt data driven decision-making. In doing so this will help protect and adapt regional identities associated with Pinot Noir styles through achieving quality outcomes and market advantage.
Alistair Nesbitt is CEO of Vinescapes Ltd., a company that consults to vineyards, wine producers and wine industry policy actors on issues of viticulture and climate. Alistair holds a PhD in Viticulture & Climate Science and is also a Trustee of the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation. His research has guided the development of the UK wine industry and has identified the premium viticulture locations in the UK, including those for Pinot Noir.
Steve Dorling is Visiting Professor at the University of East Anglia and Head of Innovation at WeatherQuest Ltd. Steve is a Chartered Meteorologist and has co-authored a series of papers which chronicle the development of the wine industry in England and Wales. Steve has collaborated with many European climate scientists on projects relating to energy-, water- and food security.
Kerrie Lyons is a PhD candidate at the University of Southampton. A wine marketing professional with a Masters in Wine Business, Kerrie has begun a journey into the cultural dimensions of wine and drinking cultures through a Masters in Anthropology (Advanced) at the Australian National University and now under the supervision of French and Wine Cultural Anthropologist, Professor Marion Demossier.