Water is vital for the vine. It should come in reasonable quantities. Whether it then comes naturally from above in the form of rain or from an irrigation system does not matter for the wine’s quality. (And that old adage that irrigation is forbidden in vineyards in France or other European countries is not true.) But it is, of course, essential that the water is provided sustainably. Water is an important issue in the sustainability debate.
In the south of France, vines suffer more and more from recurring droughts during the summer. Access to water is becoming an increasingly important issue. The drought is beginning to affect the yields too much. The older vines survive, but it can be catastrophic for the younger ones.
Maybe the first step will be to change the rules for irrigation of appellation wines, which, according to the producers, are not adapted to climate change. At present, irrigation of AOP vineyards in France is prohibited after the 1st of May, although exceptions can be made after a rather time-consuming application. Important alternatives to irrigation are to find grape varieties and rootstocks that are resistant to drought.
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2 Responses
Hi Britt, is AOP the only region in France that restricts irrigation?
AOP refers to “appellation d’origine protege”. It’s not a region. Regulations vary from region to region.