Grape Britain: exploring the future of the English and Welsh Wine Industry
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Centre for Environmental Policy
Abstract
Strategic theme: Living with Climate Change
Strategic area: Operational Research
Project summary:
The wine industry is one of the United Kingdom's most rapidly expanding agricultural sectors, with total hectarage planted quadrupling since 2000, and over 3 million vines planted this year alone. As the commercial UK wine industry is still in its formative years, there is much research to be undertaken to better understand the sector. In particular, the impact of viticulture on the British landscape is as yet unknown, as well as how climate change will continue to influence the industry, in addition to how we choose the steer it.
Climate change is widely acknowledged as a factor driving changes in both vintage quality and suitability of areas for wine production. Existing areas are now reaching the upper thresholds for site suitability, such as Champagne in France, whilst other areas are now continuing to increase in suitability, such as the south of England. Monitoring weather patterns and extreme weather events is vital in order try and manage vineyards for optimal vintage production. This is particularly relevant for shaping the future of the English and Welsh wine industries, and identification of optimal sites, within designated regions based on terroir, and selection of optimal grape cultivars for yield, quality and demand.
The primary aim of this project is to design a model terroir map for England and Wales. Terroir is the notion that wines are unique to the area in which they are grown, and that this is driven by a plethora of factors, including geology, soil, landscape, climate, weather, grape variety, as well as cultural aspects such as history of a region and winemaker knowledge. Appellation control systems for many wines in Europe are largely driven by the concept of terroir defining an area. England and Wales currently has little legislation that protects grape growers, wine producers and consumers. Particularly in the face of political and legislative insecurity, a definition of systems and identification of distinct regions, which to date are divided arbitrarily by counties and administrative regions, is needed to protect a variety of stakeholders. Additionally, defined regional terroir may aid in the promotion of certain styles, wines and producers, which is also essential for the development of wine tourism across England and Wales.
This project aims to address fundamental knowledge gaps in our understanding of the English and Welsh wine sector. The information yielded from this research will have a large impact in helping to advise in the shaping of the future of the English and Welsh wine industry, aiming to influence a wide variety of stakeholders from legislators to producers as well as consumers.
Strategic area: Operational Research
Project summary:
The wine industry is one of the United Kingdom's most rapidly expanding agricultural sectors, with total hectarage planted quadrupling since 2000, and over 3 million vines planted this year alone. As the commercial UK wine industry is still in its formative years, there is much research to be undertaken to better understand the sector. In particular, the impact of viticulture on the British landscape is as yet unknown, as well as how climate change will continue to influence the industry, in addition to how we choose the steer it.
Climate change is widely acknowledged as a factor driving changes in both vintage quality and suitability of areas for wine production. Existing areas are now reaching the upper thresholds for site suitability, such as Champagne in France, whilst other areas are now continuing to increase in suitability, such as the south of England. Monitoring weather patterns and extreme weather events is vital in order try and manage vineyards for optimal vintage production. This is particularly relevant for shaping the future of the English and Welsh wine industries, and identification of optimal sites, within designated regions based on terroir, and selection of optimal grape cultivars for yield, quality and demand.
The primary aim of this project is to design a model terroir map for England and Wales. Terroir is the notion that wines are unique to the area in which they are grown, and that this is driven by a plethora of factors, including geology, soil, landscape, climate, weather, grape variety, as well as cultural aspects such as history of a region and winemaker knowledge. Appellation control systems for many wines in Europe are largely driven by the concept of terroir defining an area. England and Wales currently has little legislation that protects grape growers, wine producers and consumers. Particularly in the face of political and legislative insecurity, a definition of systems and identification of distinct regions, which to date are divided arbitrarily by counties and administrative regions, is needed to protect a variety of stakeholders. Additionally, defined regional terroir may aid in the promotion of certain styles, wines and producers, which is also essential for the development of wine tourism across England and Wales.
This project aims to address fundamental knowledge gaps in our understanding of the English and Welsh wine sector. The information yielded from this research will have a large impact in helping to advise in the shaping of the future of the English and Welsh wine industry, aiming to influence a wide variety of stakeholders from legislators to producers as well as consumers.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Caroline Howe (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Bethany Reyniers (Student) |