Wine lovers take note – we may have just hit peak wine. Global demand for wine has outstripped supply as production around the world drops – and global warming is to blame. CNN reports that the world’s wine thirst is on the rise, but unstable weather in wine-raising regions has made the market imbalanced.
Global warming has affected weather patterns around the world – including the regions known for growing the great grapes that become wine. The unstable weather in wine growing areas like France, Spain and Argentina has affected grape growth, making 2012 one of the weakest harvests ever. The early onset of warm weather can cause grapes to mature too quickly and rot on the vine. Although 2013’s harvest is already much better than the last, it still shows a trend of decline when compared to the past ten years.
Despite the decline in usable grape harvests, the world seems to be thirstier than ever for wine. Wine consumption in the United States rose 2% last year, while wine drinking in China has quadrupled since 2009. More and more small wineries seem to be popping up around the United States, but their limited production may not be enough to satisfy the needs of the wine loving world.
Should winos be stocking up on their beloved bottles? The promising harvest of 2013 has wine fans hoping for a better future, although the