In the wine industry, the significance of vintage remains prominent, with specific harvest years often displayed on labels of red, white, or rosé wines. Conversely, non-vintage still wines—created by blending grapes from multiple years—are considered less favorable and are less frequently produced. However, as climate change causes more extreme weather patterns, an increasing number of wineries are opting to produce non-vintage wines to achieve more consistent quality.
Chris Howell, winemaker at Cain Vineyard in California’s Napa Valley, notes that summers have become significantly hotter since he began his career in 1991, with peak temperatures reaching dangerous levels. He recounts the severe wildfires in 2017, which impacted grape harvests. To mitigate the risk of smoke taint in his wines, Howell chose to use only grapes harvested before the fires began, relying on his non-vintage Cain Cuvée blend, which allowed him to mix wines from different years.
While Napa Valley maintains a focus on vintage, non-vintage blending is more established in sparkling wines like Champagne, where climatic factors have historically necessitated combining wines from various years for quality consistency. Recent climate changes have begun to increase the availability of vintage sparkling wines.
Meanwhile, Riccardo Pasqua from Italy’s Veneto region introduced the country’s first multi-year still white wine blend, mixing grapes from up to five harvests to provide optimal expression of the vineyard. Pasqua highlights a trend where multiple wineries in Italy are also exploring non-vintage options in response to adverse weather conditions.
As the wine community continues to navigate climate challenges, Howell acknowledges the stigma surrounding non-vintage wines and advocates for broader acceptance. With most wines produced as blends from different vineyards, some experts argue there is little distinction between blending years or locations, prompting a reassessment of consumer perceptions.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxp41y3n7lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss