Did you know that the weather can completely change the way wine tastes? Or that some Italian vineyards have restrictions on how high up a mountain they can grow their grapes?
Before researching Italian agriculture, I had no idea how much actually goes into producing wine, or how much the environment influences the final product. Italy is one of the largest wine producers in the world, and wine plays a major role in the country's economy. From Prosecco to the famous red wines produced right here in Piedmont, different regions have their own grapes, production methods and traditions. However, climate change is making it increasingly difficult to maintain those traditions.
Why does the weather matter so much?
Obviously, plants need sunlight and water to grow, but I didn't realize just how sensitive grapes are to changes in temperature. When temperatures rise, grapes ripen faster. At first, that doesn't sound like much of a problem, but the speed at which grapes ripen actually has a big impact on the wine they produce.
As grapes ripen, they develop sugars, acids and other compounds that determine their flavor.
