You’ll hear it said around here, “Rain is liquid sunshine!” That’s the heart of an Oregonian’s ever-optimistic attitude, their love for the land and for a good glass of Oregon wine – pouring the perfect Pinot Noir, toasty Tempranillo, or a cheeky Chardonnay. But the very thing that makes Oregon a winemaker’s paradise – the distinctive four-seasons climate – is beginning to feel the effects of climate change. And ’round these parts, we’re no strangers to adapting.
Oregon’s Vino History
Oregon wine country, with over 700 wineries stretched from the Columbia River Gorge to the Rogue Valley, wouldn’t exist without our year-round cool and wet climate. Award-winning wines are born from our fertile, volcanic earth, where every snowflake or raindrop adds its touch to a grape’s profile. We have Mother Nature to thank for placing us spot-on the 45th parallel, where the earth’s natural temperate “Goldilocks” zone resides —not too hot, not too cold.
The Climate Change Quandary
However, the last few growing seasons have had Oregon winemakers scratching their heads, jeans dusted with soil, and attention directed skyward. Increased heat waves, fewer frost days, and unpredictable weather patterns have become more prevalent. These aren’t the usual summertime tales swapped over a glass at Dundee’s wine tasting rooms or debated amongst sommeliers at Portland’s Higgins Restaurant and Bar. It’s the reality of how climate change is affecting Oregon’s wine industry.
Warmer Wines, Concerned Vines
As per the typical local, easy-going demeanor, winemakers aren’t panicking, but they’re getting a bit antsier. Increased heat over the grape growing season, particularly during the summers, is pushing Oregon’s vineyards to produce higher sugar content grapes. This leads to stronger, more alcoholic wines, which challenges their hallmark balance between acid and sugar, a delicate balance as precarious as crossing the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse in a storm.
Vineyards nestled down in southern Oregon, like those around Applegate and Umpqua valleys, are feeling the heat more intensely. Their warmer climate varietals like Syrah and Tempranillo, which like a bit of extra sunshine, may soon find themselves in Vineyard Heaven, leaving behind disappointed wine connoisseurs with half-filled racks.
Less Frost, More Cost
Fewer frost days may sound fantastic to a newcomer. “Less scraping windshields,” they may cheer, but we locals know better. Frost – that chilly sprite playing on the edges of a clear winter dawn – is nature’s way of controlling vine pests. With less frost, pests like the destructive phylloxera could start to make a comeback, much like the retro flannel trend. Except, there’s nothing cool about this: it could significantly damage grape yields and vine health.
Dancing With Drought
We’re used to seeing populate holiday spots such as Crater Lake, Mt. Hood, or Multnomah Falls almost dry up under the scorching sunlight during the summertime. However, extended dry periods are threatening more than just our outdoor adventures. These periods dare the Willamette valley vine growers to dance a challenging tango, invariably leading to concerns about water scarcity and vine irrigation.
Adapting to Change
Oregonians are as sturdy and resilient as the Sitka Spruces standing sternly along our coastline. Our beloved winemakers are meeting climate change with innovation and creativity, perhaps inspired by the tireless ingenuity of Powell’s City of Books. They’re exploring earlier ripening grape varieties, experimenting with different trellising techniques like the Geneva Double Curtain, and increasingly investing in sustainable practices and technologies.
Raising A Toast to the Future
We come bearing hats, but we keep them aloof. The wine industry in Oregon has witnessed the mighty Columbia River’s power, embraced the chinook winds, and rolled with more than a few volcanic punches. No doubt this climate puzzle is a corker, but our hands are steady on the bottle despite the unpredictable weather patterns that are reshuffling the cards.
Climate change? Bring it on, Oregon’s wine industry has its soil-laden boots firmly rooted. So, next time you’re down at the Saturday Market in Eugene, or alfresco dining at Portland’s Departure, raise a glass to our winemakers’ tenacity. Each vintage carries the story of a season, the tale of the terroir, and the passion of a winemaker who, like the rest of us, absolutely adores Oregon. Here in this gorgeous state of ours, we sense a vintage – steeped in resilience and innovation – being uncorked. Cheers to that! Wouldn’t you love a sip?