Wine with Leslie: The best organic wines at every price point

Modern industrial farming methods are said to contribute up to 29% of global greenhouse gas emissions and grape growing is often worse than other farming sectors.

Fri, 22 Jul, 2022 - 17:55

Leslie Williams

Leslie Williams has been the Irish Examiner's wine columnist since 2012 and has been reviewing restaurants since 2015.

As the northern hemisphere bakes and forest fires burn up southern Europe, floods have hit China, Kenya, Australia and Bangladesh. Modern industrial farming methods are said to contribute up to 29% of global greenhouse gas emissions and grape growing is often worse than other farming sectors.

Sustainability is mentioned on just about every winery website I’ve seen, and while I know some are bending the truth I do think the wine world is massively aware of global warming. Bud break is earlier every year which is a big problem as young shoots cannot cope with spring frosts. Hail is a yearly problem in some regions (Bordeaux, for example) with stones the size of golf balls destroying vines. August harvests are now commonplace when mid-September was the norm just 20 years ago, a further problem as a longer growing season usually gives better quality grapes.