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Can the French #wine industry adapt fast enough to #climate change?
“We’re going back to ancient ways.” To deal with erratic frosts, he has begun pruning his vines later in the year, which postpones bud emergence. To cope with drought & high temps, he’s created higher canopies of leaves that provide more shade to the grapes. He works the land with #horses, rather than tractors, to preserve the health of the soil, & 6 years ago he started to plant annual vegetation around the vines to retain winter & spring water into the summer. In the summer, he cuts the annuals back to create “a sponge of #organic matter” that continues to hold water & cool the soil.

More & more French wine-makers are following a similar path. “The more climate-resilient or smart the vineyard is, the better able to adapt to climate change." They’re seeing the importance of regenerative farming that focuses on natural resources & the need to mitigate their impacts." #permaculture https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02974-y