Wine grapes grow best in the northern and southern hemispheres between 30° – 50° latitude. So what defines a cool-climate wine? Cool climate is also a function of elevation. Vineyards perched in the mountains enjoy cooler temperatures than fruit on the valley floor. Other factors can include the amount of rainfall, humidity, and cooling or warming forces like cloud cover and wind patterns. These climatic differences contribute to the overall flavor profile of a wine.
Cool Climate Wine Attributes | Warm Climate Wine Attributes |
Grapes do not ripen as quickly | Grapes ripen faster |
Lower natural sugars | Accumulates more sugars, can lead to higher alcohol content |
Higher acidity | Can be a struggle to maintain acidity in a wine |
Tart fruits flavors like cranberry, raspberry, sour cherry and green apple are common | Darker fruit flavors often dominate like plums, blueberries, blackberries, and these wines can even exhibit chocolate notes. |
Wines may be described as elegant, nuanced and fresh | Wines may struggle to taste fresh, leading to stewed, shapeless or flabby flavors |
References:
1. Lauren Mowery, The Real Difference Between Cool-Climate and Warm-Climate Wine, Wine Enthusiast, May 1, 2018.
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