Climate effect on wine production

[Randy Caparoso]

One more perceptible (in blind tastings) factor, gentlemen: warm climate wines tend to have riper, fruitier aromas and flavors, and higher alcohol structures (the latter due to higher sugar levels). Australian wines (i.e. Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley. and South Australian grown wines), are good examples -- Chardonnays from these regions are quite full in body and typically have sweetly scented, tropical fruit qualities, as opposed to Chardonnays grown in "cold" climate Burgundy (minerals, citrus, and crisp apple aromas) and even moderately cool climate California grown Chardonnays (like the pear/appley, stony toned Santa Barbara styles).

But as with all things involving wine, these are generalizations. Distinctions become blurred, and characteristics often reversed, due to factors such as vintage conditions and variant viticultural/winemaking methodologies.

[This message has been edited by Randy Caparoso (edited 10-17-99).]