Have you ever wondered why some grapes grow in some regions and not others? Or why you don’t find vineyards in very hot climates? Climate is one of those terms you might see on tasting notes or hear when you’re tasting wine, but what does it actually mean? And what is the difference between warm and cool climate wines?
Climate is so essential when it comes to winemaking, and understanding what it means will help you choose a wine that you’re more likely to love. The good news is that understanding climate doesn’t involve taking a wine course! This guide will break down everything you need to know about how climate impacts wine, what to look for and what the difference is in what you’ll taste.
What is wine climate?
Climate is so essential to producing wines, but it is made up of a number of different factors that impact the grapes. All of these factors come together to impact the temperature in the region, which has a big impact on the grapes.
As a general rule, wine grapes grow best in climates that aren’t too tropical, too arid too arctic. The blanket idea is that the most suitable climates are found between 30° – 50° latitude, both north and south. This is why you won’t find wines growing in the equator region, or in the arctic either!
However, it isn’t all about location. There are many things that impact what climate a wine region is, whether it is cool, moderate or warm climate:
- Elevation – higher vineyard sites tend to have cooler temperatures
- Amount of rainfall
- Humidity
- Cooling or warming forces such as cloud cover and wind patterns
These regions also don’t need to be ‘cool’ all year around. Climate comes from how quickly the cooler weather comes on, rainfall and typical humidity as well as lower average temperatures. This is why although the Yarra Valley has maximum averages of 27C, it is still considered a cool climate.
All of these factors come together to determine whether a wine region is cool, moderate or warm. And this impacts everything from the types of grapes that can be grown successfully to the flavours you’ll find in the glass.
How does climate affect wines?
If you understand the general differences between warm and cool climate wines, you’ll know what you prefer.
Like people, grapes also have a preference on hot or cold weather. We all have different opinions on whether we love Summer or Winter, and grapes do too. Their preference for temperature impacts how well they grow, and the flavours that they develop. Some grapes hate the cold, and others need it to develop into beautiful wines. Then there are some grapes that can grow in all climates, but produce completely different wines depending on whether they’re grown.
So let’s dive into the difference between cool and warm climate wines so you can understand why these grapes prefer these climates.
Cool climate wines
As cool climates have lower temperatures, grapes do not ripen as quickly. This results in longer growing seasons and lower sugar in the wines, as well as higher acidity. As the grapes do not get as ripe, their sugar is lower than in warmer climates which can also mean lower alcohol volume in the resulting wine.
Wines from cooler climates are often described as being more subtle with tart flavours such as raspberry, cherry or cranberry, as well as green or spice characteristics. You’ll see the difference in grapes that grow in both climates such as Chardonnay and Shiraz. Chardonnay from a cool climate will have more acidity and tarter flavours, and Shiraz is more likely to have pepper characteristics.
Cool climates tend to yield less fruit per vine and some varieties simply won’t grow well without warmth. Winters can also harm or kill vines especially if there is frost. Winemakers also need to balance out the acidity in the wines with enough sweetness.
Cool region examples:
- In Australia: Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Macedon Ranges (VIC); Adelaide Hills, Eden Valley (SA); Tasmania
- Northern France
- Some regions in the US such as Oregon, Washington State, New York
- Chile
- Hungary
- New Zealand
- Northern Italy
- Austria
- Germany
Ideal varieties
- Riesling
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Sauvignon Blanc
Warm climate wines
Warm climate wines have more punch to them and are often described as full-flavoured or rich. This is because the grapes ripen quicker in hot temperatures which creates more sugar, leading to higher alcohol levels in the wine. The grapes also tend to have thicker skins to protect themselves from the heat, resulting in more tannic wines.
Typically you get dominant fruit flavours such as stone fruit, dried fruit or dark fruit such as blackberry or plum. These flavours can often be more jammy in flavour. You can also get characteristics such as black pepper, leather or chocolate. A good example of this is a Barossa Shiraz which is usually big and bold with jammy fruit flavours.
The largest challenge with warm climates is balancing big and bold flavours with acidity. As the grapes ripen the acidity reduces, and so winemakers have to walk a fine line to create balance in these bold wines.
Warm region examples:
- In Australia: Hunter Valley, Mudgee (NSW); Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra (SA); Margaret River (WA)
- California
- Argentina
- Southern Italy
- Greek Islands
- Central & Southern Spain
- Central & Southern Portugal
- Southern France
In summary: What’s the difference between cool and warm climate wines?
So now that you know the difference between cool and warm climate wines, what is better? Like most things with wine, there is no right or wrong answer. Each grape is different, and when produced in the ideal climate you’ll get a delicious wine. But which one you prefer comes down to personal preference. Whether you like something delicate or something powerful, or tart versus ripe. There is room for cool and warm climate wines in everyone’s preferences.