French winemakers are raising concerns about the effects of global warming on their vineyards. The winemakers are urging their government leaders to press for an agreement to cut greenhouse gases (GHG) at the upcoming United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

A group of 50 winemakers, sommeliers and chefs along with Greenpeace recently wrote an opinion piece in Le Monde. The New York Times reports that the group warned that “[s]ummer heat waves, recent hail storms in the Bordeaux region, new diseases coming from the south . . . will soon be much more serious.”

Spanish winemakers have already faced changes to the way they grow wine in warming temperatures. Some are even starting to plant vines at higher altitudes.

The Spanish have hosted a Climate Change and Wine conference in 2008 and plan to host another in 2010

The Australian wine growers appear confident that they can adapt to more drought and heat by looking to alternative varieties.

In the United States, where wine is grown is all 50 states, if global warming does happen gradually, some northern wineries may see distinct benefits to warming.

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Copyright 2009- K.J. Collins