A climatic analysis of wine regions growing pinot noir

Abstract

This study examines the growing season climates of selected wine regions worldwide that have significant areas planted to pinot noir. It uses the normalized climatic data for the 1971–2000 period to analyse those climatic factors that influence the production of quality pinot noir wines in cool climate regions and provides a comparison with those of the variety's historical home, Burgundy. Ultimately, the study seeks to understand the climatic differences and similarities between these wine regions. The results of principal component analysis and cluster analysis show that the regions fall into three broad groups, differentiated on the basis of such variables as the daytime maximum temperature, growing season precipitation totals, the diurnal temperature range and the mean temperature during the ripening period. These factors are also likely to contribute to the uniqueness of the wines in each region. However, similarity exists among the regions with respect to the accumulated growing degree-days, the total growing season minimum temperature and the September/March ripening period minimum temperature.

Keywords:

• pinot noir
• climates
• regions

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Drs Andy Reynolds and Gary Pickering of the Brock University Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute for their insightful suggestions and editorial changes in the early draft of this paper. The technical assistance of the cartographer, Loris Gasparrotto, and the comments of the anonymous referees are also gratefully acknowledged.