Wine Shortage đ±
Wine Supply and Demand. While itâs been a celebratory week for Americaâs sweetheart, itâs been less so for wine grapes. The Guardianâs Warning over âextremely lowâ wine production in Europe due to bad weather said that 2021 wine production is expected to fall to one of its lowest levels on record, the third consecutive year where global production is below average, due to unfavourable weather conditions. Pau Roca of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine said wine growers are now âconfronting a much greater problem than the pandemic: climate change,â as adverse weather is occurring more frequently
While âthere is no vaccineâ against climate change, he said âthere are long-term solutions which will require major efforts in terms of sustainable practices for cultivating vines and producing wineâ. He said adaptation was an âurgent necessityâ for the industry.
There is also a fear that despite the shortage, âsales will go back to their pre-pandemic prices and will be unable to supply a renewed demand,â according to the Toronto Sunâs article SOUR GRAPES: Wine shortage forecasted after 2021âs âextreme lowâ production. Meanwhile, the Globe and Mail wrote that Champagne is facing its smallest harvest in decades. Will supplies run out?⊠a cliffhanger of an article that ultimately ends with better bubbly news:
Although vintage-dated sparkling wines from 2021 might be in short supply, wine lovers shouldnât have any difficulty buying bottles of Champagne in the coming years.
You Say Organic, I Say Biodynamic, Letâs Call The Whole Thing Off. EcoWatch posted A Buyer's Guide to Environmentally-Conscious Wine to help wade through all the wine terms - organic! biodynamic! natural! sustainable! - recognizing that a) itâs confusing! and b) that we all (er, most of us? um, some of us?) want to make more informed decisions.
In recent decades, consumers have become increasingly conscious of how our food is produced, and the local, sustainable food movement has moved into the mainstream. Many Americans have transitioned to plant-based diets as awareness mounts about factory farming and harmful large-scale agricultural practicesâŠ. Yet, wine â a product of major importance in culture and cuisine â is largely left out of this conversation, although its environmental impact is significant.
The guide provides definitions for the above terms and offers helpful advice:
Do your own research about wineries to find out what their practices are; some that are uncertified might even go further than those that are when it comes to environmentally-friendly practices and ethical labor standards. If possible, look for wines local to your region (that is, if you live in a wine-producing state). Like local food, wines produced nearby require much less transportation and your business contributes to the local economy.
Wine Clubs. The Globe and Mailâs Christopher Waters wrote about how Online wine clubs offer a sommelier-style experience for drinkers to discover new and unique bottles. Waters says the increase of online alcohol sales (up 14% in Canada according to Wine Intelligence), has âinspired a flurry of sommelier-led initiatives launched during the pandemic, and thereâs growing interest in subscription-based wine clubs that deliver wine right to your home or office.â (Wine to my office, yes please!). His article highlights clubs including ApĂ©ro in BC, CB Wine Program (an offshoot of Charlie Burgers), Coterie 72, and Gargoyle Wine Club (whose new Praise Bottle Shop in Toronto sees that every bottle purchased âprovides one year of clean drinking water for somewhere in the world,â through a partnership with water.org, according to Retail Insider). Other local TO wine clubs with a focus on low-intervention packs include Grape Witches, The Real Wine Club (from the The Living Vine), Crushable, Albae Wine Club, Weird Wine Subscription (from Lake Inez), VQ Wines, Boxcar Social, Grey Gardens, wineclub.to, Donât Worry (who just released the âbest BC fizzâ), Meanwhile Wine Club, and In Wines We Trust. Plus there are clubs from Ontario low-intervention wineries including Trail Estate, Rosewood, Stanners, Southbrook, and Leaning Post, to name a few, but check with your fave Ontario winery to see if they have a club!