Climate change may help UK become major wine exporter by 2100: study

Thanks to changing weather patterns, the UK could become a major wine producer and exporter by the turn of the century, a study has concluded.

With increasing rainfall and temperature, parts of the UK might transform into perfect growing environments for a number of grape varieties.

The change could result in ideal conditions for vineyards in areas such as south London and Milton Keynes.

The study found that by 2100 wines from the UK might be able to compete on the same level as those from famous French regions such as Burgundy and Beaujolais.

University College London researchers looked at the conditions suited for certain grape varieties alongside the expected changes in climate in the next 85 years.

Their work was based on projections that temperatures would increase by at least 2.2C by 2100 and rainfall will increase by 5.6 per cent.

The area between Newcastle and Edinburgh could be ideal for pinot grigio, while Malbec could suit the Thames Estuary area and Severn Pocket would be a good spot for merlot.
According to professor Mark Maslin, one of the researchers, climate was "critical" to grape cultivation.

He added, "This study could signal how we think long-term about British wine production and redraw the future wine map of the world."

"However, exactly where would be best for particular grapes will depend on site, slope, aspect, soil and drainage as wine-making is as much an art as it is a science."

The Irish independent quoted Wine and Spirit Trade Association chief executive Miles Beale, " English wine is a fast growing industry with bold ambitions to boost production, reported. "In the last 10 years the area of planted vines in the UK has more than doubled and is set to grow by a further 50% by 2020. So it comes as no surprise that the study by UCL is predicting a creep of vines spreading their way across the UK over the next 85 years."