The impact of climate change on grape vines and vineyards is indisputable by now. The socio-economic stakes are enormous, around the world. They are planting grape vines in Norway; British sparkling wine is doing just fine, and the Germans are keeping their eyes and their options open.

Everything was for the best in the best of all possible wine worlds… until the turn of the century. The wine was good, but global warming was already underway: alcohol content was rising; sugar followed, and acidity was soon falling. In the vineyards, all sorts of complications were arising: water stress, frost, drought and diseases.

The author spoke to specialists and wine-growers in every wine region. The grape varieties will have to be changed, which means the system of appellations will have to change with it. Wine-growers are trying to adapt. They’re switching back to older varieties, mobilizing genetics, testing disease- and weather-resistant hybrids and more. In order to focus on quality, they are switching to organic and biodynamic wine-growing and -making. We (may) still be drinking wine in 2050. But a different wine, and we’ll have to pay through the nose for it! The forty-fifth parallel will become the great Wine Divide. But Brittany is ready, and Normandy has already started planting.