Global warming could see North East become major wine producing region

Climate change could warm region sufficiently by 2080 to make it suitable for many white wine grapes

Global warming has been blamed for a lot of things – glaciers melting, sea levels rising, seasons changing and weather becoming more extreme.

But as temperatures increase, one industry could make unlikely progress in the North… conditions are becoming conducive to the production of wine.

Currently the most northerly commercial vineyard is near Malton, in North Yorkshire – but experts are now predicting that if climate change continues then by 2080 this region could be perfect for making what have traditionally been seen as continental white wines.

However, before hillsides can be planted up with vines, scientists may have to overcome the stumbling block of the North’s clay soils.

“If the conditions are right then there would be no reason you couldn’t grow the grapes up here,” said wine merchant Richard Granger, from Jesmond, Newcastle. “But up here it wouldn’t just be a question of getting the climate right, but the soil structure, which is equally, if not more important.

“In the south of England the soils are more limestone and chalk, and that’s quite critical.

“Yet up here the region, particularly the area around Newcastle, is great for growing potatoes because of the clay based soils, but vines have found that difficult.”


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