(20 Sep 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Burgundy, France – 12 September 2023
HEADLINE: New varieties of French grape fight climate change
1. Various of sunrise over vineyard
2. Various of harvesters
ANNOTATION: As climate change threatens the Burgundy wine region new grape varieties are being developed to resist erratic weather.
ANNOTATION: Climate change and erratic weather patterns are threatening a delicate ecosystem.
3. Jean-Rémi Fray, vineyard manager, inspecting grapes
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Rémi Fray, vineyard manager:
“We can really see the effects of climate change. The main one we can say is the spring frost, because now the winters are quite warm. They are not cold enough. And the bud break, the moment the buds start to grow, occurs sooner than before, at a period in early April where there are some frosts. And it’s difficult to deal with that. You can have lost all your production in only one night.”
5. Various of grapes ++CUTAWAYS FROM INTERVIEW++
6. Various of forklift moving box of grapes into position over tank
7. Winery worker climbing ladder to top of tank
ANNOTATION: For France’s wine aficionados the realities of climate change means changing where grapes are grown and creating new varieties.
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Negrerie, Château de Pommard winemaker:
“It is totally bad for me, because I love Pinot Noir. It is my favourite varietal, it’s delicate, it’s different aromas. The evolution through age is amazing. But we cannot fight against nature sometimes. And it’s us, we need to adapt, we probably need to change the varietal, the grape variety here. Because not every year, but some years, you get really ripe, ripe, ripe Pinot Noir and it’s not the way it should be, the Pinot Noir. And probably Pinot Noir needs to go far more north, we need to blend it over there where it’s more its climate. And we need to start to blend probably other things.”
ANNOTATION: Winemakers are changing methods to protect their vines. They are shading the fruit by not pruning leaves, and are letting weeds grow freely to cool soil.
9. Mid of vines
10. Various of weeds growing around vines
ANNOTATION: They are also working to create more resistant grapes.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Burgundy, France – 19 September 2023
++VIDEO CALL++
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Héloïse Mahé, Deputy Technical Director, BIVB (Burgundy Wine Board):
“We also are creating new varieties which is a cross between Pinot or Chardonnay and resistant varieties, resistant to powdery mildew and downy mildew. And my team is in the cellar right now because we are vinifying more than 300 new varieties.”
ANNOTATION: Burgundy’s winegrowers and scientists are working together to protect their vintages for future generations.
12. Various of grapes.
STORYLINE:
Dawn breaks over Burgundy.
And already, vineyards are bursting into life.
Château de Pommard was founded in 1726, and the familiar agricultural cycle has been taking place ever since.
In late summer, harvesters descend on the vineyard to strip the vines of their fruits, as they have always done.
But almost 300 years after the first grapes were picked, change is afoot.
And that’s down to the warming climate.
Temperatures in the region have increased by an average 1 degree Celsius since 1987 – but some years the peak is much hotter.
The season has shifted, according to research by the Burgundy Wine Board (BIVM)
For vineyard managers like Jean-Rémi Fray, keeping the plants healthy is a battle against the elements.
And in the summer, storms are a threat.
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