Extreme Weather Events: Response from the Vineyards

A changing climate leads to changes in the frequency, intensity, spatial extent, duration and timing of extreme weather and climate events (EWE). These are the words of the IPCC. Per se, these EWE do not prove the existence of global warming, but it is a given fact that climate change exaggerates them. Reality, as we speak, is a reflection of this and of the current climate crisis: a few years ago, South Africa faced a period of severe water shortage in the Western Cape region. In 2017, the exact place where the Douro River is born, Picos de Urbíon, dried up. This year, in Germany, ice wine harvest failed for the first time due to a warm winter. A year ago, Australia was on fire, with an unrepairable and unprecedented loss for its ecosystems, let alone lives and businesses. As we speak, California, Oregon and Washington are being devastated by wildfires that preceded record heatwaves, followed by storms that ignited the fires. In Maryland, tornados were followed by hurricanes and then frost. Again, countless producers are still unsure about whether they will be able to save their harvest from smoke taint, and many have lost their vintage altogether. Why? What are the causes? What are the impacts? How can we prepare our vineyards, our operation, ourselves, reduce the impacts and minimize the losses? This Climate Talk will address these questions by gathering producers and scientists from different parts of the world that have experienced these EWE’s. They will share their knowledge, experience, different realities, and above all the ideas and practices implemented to tackle this reality. In a conversation starting with a scientific data approach, we will try to understand how can science help producers to predict, adapt and decide which are the best options available to deal with ewe, and how can they do this in a very practical manner. Host: João Santos . Professor at the Physics Department of UTAD (University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro) . Portugal Guests: GREGORY JONES . Director of the Evenstad Center for Wine Education, professor and research climatologist at Linfield College . USA PHIL FREESE . Winegrowing Partner and creator of the Vilafonté vineyards . SA & US ALISDAIR TULLOCH . Winery Assistant & Carbon Neutral Spokesperson at Keith Tulloch Wine . Australia RICHARD HAMILTON . Principal Consultant Viticulturist at Hamilton Viticulture . Australia

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