Wset Diploma Wine Region Climates

Front 1

Bordeaux

Back 1

Moderate Maritime
- long ripening season
- High humidity (grey rot bad/ botrytis good)
- Even rainfall throughout year
- Dunes and forests protect from Atlantic winds

Front 2

Bergerac AC

Back 2

Less maritime influence than Bordeaux

Front 3

Burgundy

Back 3

Northern Continential
- Severe winters
- Short, warm summers
- relatively low rainfall but vintage rains cause grey rot
- Spring frosts and summer hail, especially in Chablis
- Massif Central protects many vineyards from higher levels of rain

Front 4

Beaujolais

Back 4

Warmer and drier than Northern Burgundy

Front 5

Macconais

Back 5

Warm continental

Front 6

Cote Chalonnaise

Back 6

Similar to Cote d'Or but warmer and with higher altitude

Front 7

Alsace

Back 7

- Driest area in France
- Vosges mountains protect from rain and wind
- 1800+ sunshine hours
- hot summers
- Long, dry Autumns
- Occasional summer hail storms
- Occasional cold winter can kill vines
- Overall near perfect climate
- Warm mesoclimate close to Colmar (middle) 1 degree higher than average

Front 8

Loire Central Vineyards

Back 8

Continental with severe winters and hot summers

Sancerre AC, Pouilly Fume AC, Menetou-Salon, Reuilly, Quincy

Front 9

Touraine

Back 9

Continental climate
Warm summers and cold winters
Not as extreme as Loire Central Vineyards

Touraine, Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicholas de Bourgueil

Front 10

Anjou-Saumur

Back 10

Atlantic influenced but drier and warmer than Nantais.
- All day sun
- Facing the prevailing winds

Anjou, Saumur, Champigny, Coteaux du Layon, Chaume, Bonnezeaux, Quarts de Chaume, Savennieres

Front 11

Nantais

Back 11

Temperate, damp and humid due to Atlantic proximity
- Mild winters (frost is rare)
- Mild summers

Front 12

Germany

Back 12

Marginal cool continental climate
- gradual ripening over long season retains acid
- Wet years botrytis more common
- River proximity airflow important for frost protection
- South facing slopes maximise sun

Front 13

Pfalz

Back 13

Shelter, sun and low rainfall provided by Haardt Moutains
- mild winters
- warm summers

Front 14

England and Wales

Back 14

- Latitude over 51 North
- Maritime and Gulf Stream influences moderate
- Spring frosts and rain at flowering a problem
- Long season
- mild Autumns
- Disease control an issue due to high rainfall

Front 15

Northern Rhone

Back 15

Mistral is dominant feature
- Strong, cold north wind cools climate but inhibits disease
- Summers hot but not stifling
- Frost risk in early Spring and delayed ripening
- Rain usually early Spring and late Autumn
- Hail an occasional problem

Front 16

Southern Rhone

Back 16

Mediterranean
- mild winters
- hot summers
- low rainfall
- plenty of sunshine
- Mistral particularly strong as no protection from sunshine

Front 17

Languedoc

Back 17

Mediterranean
- Early Springs
- Hot, dry Summers
- long Autumns
- Rainy Winters
- Mistral and Tramontane wines can still cool otherwise stifling summer heat

Front 18

Geneva

Back 18

Lake Geneva offers a warm micro climate and prevents frost risk

Front 19

Austria

Back 19

Central European
- Short cold Winters
- Long warm Summers
- Long Autumns

Front 20

Hungary

Back 20

Central European
- Short, cold Winters
- Long warm Summers
- Long Autumn for ripening
- 10.5C average temperature
- 600mm average annual rainfall

Front 21

Trans-Danubia

Back 21

Around Lake Balaton, protected from winds, ideal climate (Central European)

Front 22

Romania

Back 22

Climate divided by Carpathian mountains
- North and West = Continental
- East = Maritime from Black Sea (mild winters, hot summers)

Front 23

Piedmonte

Back 23

- Alps dominate
- Severe Winters
- Long Summers
- Warm Autumns

Front 24

Valtellina DOC

Back 24

Lombardy
Long summer days, cool nights

Front 25

Terre di Franciacorta DOC

Back 25

Lake Iseo moderates microclimate

Front 26

Veneto

Back 26

Climate moderated by mountains in the North and sea in the East

Front 27

Bardolino

Back 27

Veneto
Cooler climate on shores of Lake Garda

Front 28

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Back 28

Hillsides bordering Slovenia benefit from Alps and Adriatic airflows

Front 29

Tuscany

Back 29

Vineyards at altitude on slopes have excellent sun exposure and wide diurnal temperature range

Front 30

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Back 30

Tuscan DOCG

High altitude hillside sites have great diurnal temperature range which keeps flavours and extends ripening period

Front 31

Bolgheri DOC

Back 31

More temperate than most of Tuscany due to proximity to the sea

Front 32

Umbria

Back 32

Similar to Tuscany but inland so lacks moderating influence of the sea

Front 33

Puglia

Back 33

Hot, maritime climate

Front 34

Sicily

Back 34

Interior mountains have cooler climate producing better wines

Front 35

4 Spanish climatic zones

Back 35

North West = Atlantic
East cost = Mediterranean
Center = Continental
Southern = Coastal with hot winds

Front 36

Central Spain

Back 36

Can be Mediterranean/Continental
or
Atlantic/Continental
varying by vintage

Front 37

Rioja Alavesa

Back 37

Cool maritime influence from the Atlantic
- Relatively high rainfall
- Whole of Rioja protected by mountains on all sides

Front 38

Rioja Alta

Back 38

Maritime
- Warmer and drier than Rioja Alavesa

Front 39

Rioja Baja

Back 39

Continental
- Hot Summers
- Severe Winters

Front 40

Navarra

Back 40

Broad range of micro-climates

Front 41

Somontano

Back 41

Navarra sub region (Pyrenees foothills)
Cool climate with significant rainfall.

Front 42

Calatayud

Back 42

Navarra sub region
North East Spain

Continental and arid

Front 43

Catalunya

Back 43

Broad range of climates

Front 44

Penedes

Back 44

3 zones
- Hot Mediteranean costal plain
- Temperate inland (Cava)
- Cool continental high altitude plantings inland

Front 45

Conca de Barbera

Back 45

Catalunya sub-region
Cool sunny climate
- low rainfall
- Cooling winds from sea

Front 46

Costers del Segre

Back 46

Catalunya sub region
- Severe, semi arid climate
- Very low rainfall
- irrigation network (also protects against frost)

Front 47

Priorat (Priorato)

Back 47

Catalunya sub-region
Continental
- Hot and dry but cooler at altitude
- low rainfall

Front 48

Tarragona

Back 48

Catalunya sub-region
Mediterreanean near coast
Continental further inland

Front 49

VdlT de Castilla

Back 49

Hot, arid plains

Front 50

Duero Valley

Back 50

Harsh continental climate

Front 51

Toro

Back 51

Continental
- Extremely hot summers

Front 52

Rueda

Back 52

Continental
- Cool evenings give elegance

Front 53

Ribera del Duero

Back 53

Continental
- Warm Summers and cool nights
- Altitude tempers climate (higher altitude than Rioja)

Front 54

Rias Baixas

Back 54

Cool, damp, maritime climate

Front 55

Galacia

Back 55

North West Spain

Cool, damp maritime

Front 56

The Levant

Back 56

Mediterranean

Front 57

Valencia

Back 57

Warm Mediterranean

Front 58

Alicante

Back 58

Hot Mediterranean climate

Front 59

Jumilla

Back 59

Hot Mediterranean climate

Front 60

The Meseta

Back 60

Extremely continental climate
Hot and dry

Front 61

Valdepenas

Back 61

Extremely continental climate
Hot and dry
(Meseta sub region)

Front 62

Vinho Verde

Back 62

- Warm summers
- High rainfall in summer and often at harvest (disease threat)

Front 63

Central Portugal

Back 63

Maritime

Front 64

Bairrada

Back 64

Central Portugal
- Maritime climate
- damp and rainy

Front 65

Ribatejo

Back 65

Maritime influence
- Cooling morning mists around Tagus estuary
- Inland the temperature is relatively hot

Front 66

Palmela

Back 66

Warm maritime
- mild winters
- warm summers
- Adequate rain, mainly in winter and spring

Front 67

Alentejo

Back 67

Continental climate
- low rainfall
- Hot summers

Front 68

Northern Greece

Back 68

High altitude cool climate

Naoussa, Goumenissa and Drama Valley

Front 69

Naoussa

Back 69

High altitude cool climate

Macedonian Mountains

Front 70

Goumenissa

Back 70

High altitude cool climate

Macedonian Mountains

Front 71

Rapsani

Back 71

Central Greece

Prevailing winds help prevent fungal disease (near Mount Olympus)

Front 72

Nemea

Back 72

Peloponnese Peninsula
- mild winters
- hot summers
- rainfall limited to Autumn and Spring

Front 73

Black Sea Region

Back 73

Bulgaria

- Climate moderated by the sea
- Mountains reduce maritime influence inland (red production)

Front 74

Danube Plain

Back 74

Continental with hot summers

Front 75

Struma Valley Region

Back 75

Valley extends Mediterranean climate inland

Front 76

Sub-Balkan Region

Back 76

Bulgaria

Deep valleys produce unique micro climates (white grapes)

Front 77

Coastal Region (SA)

Back 77

Influenced by the sea

ideal for Sauvignon Blanc

Front 78

Tygerberg District

Back 78

Influenced by the sea

ideal for Sauvignon Blanc

Front 79

Stellenbosch

Back 79

Warm mediterranean climate

Front 80

Paarl

Back 80

Warmer, less maritime influenced climate

considerable climate variation

Front 81

Tulbagh District

Back 81

Hot climate, surrounded by mountains

varied climates due to topography

Front 82

Breede River Valley Region

Back 82

Hot inland climate

Canopy management enables white and sparkling production despite heat

Front 83

South African Climate

Back 83

Mediterranean
- Cold Benguela ocean current cools far inland
- low rainfall makes irrigation necessary in most sites
- Cool, low altitude coastal regions
- Warmer inland regions eg Stellenbosch

Front 84

Morocco

Back 84

Vineyards at over 500m altitude
- Atlas Mountains
- Cooled by Atlantic breezes

Front 85

Tunisia

Back 85

Best vineyards on the coast near Tunis

Front 86

Australia

Back 86

Hot Mediterranean near the coast
- Major differences between zones
- Some cool climate sites such as Tasmania and high altitude mainland sites

Front 87

Lower Hunter Zone

Back 87

High rainfall at Harvest (grey rot problem)

Front 88

Upper Hunter Valley Zone

Back 88

Drier than lower Hunter so grey rot less of a problem

Front 89

Central Ranges Zone

Back 89

Mudgee, Orange, Cowra

Cooler climate hilltop regions (over 600m)
Slopes of the Western ranges

Front 90

Canberra

Back 90

High altitude with frost problems

Front 91

Port Phillip Zone

Back 91

- Cool and Wet
- Underripeness and fungal disease a problem

Front 92

Mornington Peninsula

Back 92

Maritime climate

Front 93

Geelong

Back 93

Barren and very windy

Front 94

King Valley

Back 94

North-East Victoria Zone

High altitude, cool climate sites

Front 95

Alpine Valley

Back 95

North-East Victoria Zone

High altitude, cool climate sites

Front 96

Pyrenees

Back 96

Rolling countryside
cooler climate

Front 97

Bendigo

Back 97

Warmer than the Pyrenees

Front 98

Western Victoria Zone

Back 98

Pyrenees - cooler climate
Bendigo - warmer climate

Front 99

Tasmania

Back 99

Cool climate

Front 100

Lower Murray Zone

Back 100

Hot climate leads to sugar ripeness before phenolic ripeness
Riverland

Front 101

Barossa Zone

Back 101

Long dry summers
Hot climate with occasional drought

Front 102

McLaren Vale

Back 102

Cooled by ocean breezes

Front 103

Mount Lofty Ranges Zone

Back 103

Clare Valley
Cool nights

Front 104

Piccadilly Valley

Back 104

Cool climate

Chardonnay resembles Sauvignon Blanc due to high acid and flavour structure

Front 105

Limestone Coast Zone

Back 105

Cool climate
- influenced by ocean currents
- Spring frost, harvest rain and under ripeness are main problems

Coonawarra and Padthaway (Padthaway is slightly warmer)

Front 106

Greater Perth Zone

Back 106

Swan Valley

Very hot with dry summers

Front 107

South-West Australia Zone

Back 107

Margaret River
Maritime
- dry warm summers
- wet winters due to sea's proximity
- Strong Spring winds can disrupt flowering

Front 108

New Zealand

Back 108

Range of climates
- Subtropical Auckland
- Cool in far south
- Predominantly maritime
- Central Otago continental and very dry
- Most vineyards on East coast to protect against West coast rains

Front 109

Auckland

Back 109

Sub tropical
NZ's warmest wine region

Front 110

Marlborough

Back 110

NZ's sunniest area

Front 111

Nelson

Back 111

- Planted in Moutere Hills
- Long fine Autumns produce good late harvest Riesling

Front 112

Waipara

Back 112

Sheltered valley area
- Long, dry Summers and Autumns

Front 113

Central Otago

Back 113

Continental
- High altitude among Southern Alps
- Large diurnal temperature fluctuation
- Hot, dry Summers
- Cold, crisp Winters
- Spring and Autumn frosts an annual hazard

Front 114

Japan

Back 114

Unpredictable
- trouble ripening
- problems with grape health

Front 115

India

Back 115

Extremes in climate make grape growing difficult

Front 116

California

Back 116

Length leads to large range of climates
- UC Davis zonal classification based on degree days
- Cooling mists and fogs from Pacific provide temperature contrasts and humidity
- Where there is no fog plantings often at altitude to avoid heat

Front 117

North Coastal region

Back 117

California
Wide range from warm Mediterranean to cool with Spring frosts
Napa/Caneros/Sonoma/Russian River Valley/Mendocino

Front 118

Napa Valley AVA

Back 118

Morning mist rolls in from the Bay to cool climate

Front 119

Anderson Valley

Back 119

Cool climate

Mendocino County sub-region in North Coast region

Front 120

North Central Coast

Back 120

Monterey County = Cool and dry

Santa Cruz Mountains = Cool (zone one)

Front 121

Monterey County

Back 121

Cool and dry

Front 122

Santa Cruz Mountains

Back 122

Cool (zone one)

Front 123

South Central Coast

Back 123

Mountains are E/W not N/S facilitating flow of cool ocean breezes.
Santa Ynez Valley and Paso Robles

Front 124

Central Valley (California)

Back 124

Hot
Zone 4 & 5
Lodi sub region in North is cooler

Front 125

Sierra Foothills

Back 125

Californian Rockies foothills
- Hot days and cool nights ensuring good fruit concentration

Front 126

Oregon

Back 126

Maritime
- Pacific Ocean and warm North Pacific Drift influence

Willamette Valley - mild winters and warm summers
Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley - warmer climate

Front 127

Willamette Valley

Back 127

Mild winters and warm summers

Oregon

Front 128

Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley

Back 128

Warmer Oregon sub regions South of Willamette

Front 129

Washington State

Back 129

Extreme continental climate
- inland regions dry, almost desert
- Severe Winter frost a threat
Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley and Walla Walla sub regions

Front 130

Colombia Valley

Back 130

Extreme continental climate
- inland regions dry, almost desert
- Severe Winter frost a threat
Washington State

Front 131

New York State

Back 131

Lakes and ocean provide warm, moderating effect on climate.
- Annual frost risk at Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes/Hudson Valley/ Long Island

Front 132

Finger Lakes

Back 132

- Lakes and ocean provide warm, moderating effect on climate.
- Annual frost risk
New York State

Front 133

Hudson Valley and Long Island

Back 133

- Lakes and ocean provide warm, moderating effect on climate.

New York State

Front 134

Mexico

Back 134

Baja California
- Similar maritime influences to California
- Cold Alaskan current produces morning fogs like SF Bay
- Most irrigated from underground aquifers (salination a problem)

Front 135

Baja California

Back 135

Mexico
- Similar maritime influences to California
- Cold Alaskan current produces morning fogs like SF Bay
- Most irrigated from underground aquifers (salination a problem)

Front 136

Niagara Peninsula

Back 136

Continental
- Between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie
- Short hot Summers
- Long, extremely cold winters
- Winter and Spring frost damage risk
- Lake influences air movement
Pelee Island and Lake Erie North Shore are main VA's

Front 137

Okagnagan Valley

Back 137

British Colombia
- semi desert
- Near Northern viticulture limits
- Edge of Sonoran desert

Front 138

Chile

Back 138

Near perfect throughout
- Maritime country
- Different altitudes
- Most in warm, dry Central Valley
- varying height to costal range varies cooling influence of Pacific breeze
- Pacific breeze influence more important than latitude
- Spring frost risk in some cooler areas

Front 139

Aconcagua Region

Back 139

Chile
Maritime
- Close to sea
- Maritime influence of Humbolt current
- Morning fogs like California slow ripening and allow complex flavours to develop
Casablanca and San Antonio subregions

Front 140

Casablanca

Back 140

Chile - Aconcagua
Maritime
- Close to sea
- Maritime influence of Humbolt current
- Morning fogs like California slow ripening and allow complex flavours to develop

Front 141

San Antonio

Back 141

Chile - Aconcagua
Maritime
- Close to sea
- Maritime influence of Humbolt current
- Morning fogs like California slow ripening and allow complex flavours to develop

Front 142

Central Valley Region (Chile)

Back 142

- Between Andes and coastal Cordillera
- Cooled by Pacific Humbolt current
Maipo/Rapel/Curico/Maule sub regions

Front 143

Maipo

Back 143

Warm site valley climate around Santiago

Central Valley region

Front 144

Curico

Back 144

- South in Central Valley
- Cooler, Wetter conditions due to cloud cover and latitude
Chile

Front 145

Maule

Back 145

Wettest of 4 Chilean Central Valley sub regions

Front 146

Chile's Southern Region

Back 146

- Planting on hills and nearer sea
- Irrigation unnecessary
- Climate suitable of aromatic whites
Bio-Bio and Itala sub regions

Front 147

Bio-Bio

Back 147

Chilean Southern Region sub region
- Planting on hills and nearer sea
- Irrigation unnecessary
- Climate suitable of aromatic whites

Front 148

Itata

Back 148

Chilean Southern Region sub region
- Planting on hills and nearer sea
- Irrigation unnecessary
- Climate suitable of aromatic whiles

Front 149

Coquimbo Region

Back 149

Chile's Northernmost wine region
Elqui Valley - highest region in Chile, altitude creates long cool growing conditions perfect for Cab Sauv and Syrah
Limari Valley - East/West Valley, cooling morning fogs allow fine wine production. Irrigated as 80 - 100mm per year low rainfall

Front 150

Limari Valley

Back 150

Coquimbo sub region (Chile)
East/West Valley, cooling morning fogs allow fine wine production. Irrigated as 80 - 100mm per year low rainfall

Front 151

Elqui Valley

Back 151

Chile's Northernmost wine region
Coquimbo sub region (Chile) highest & most northern region in Chile, altitude creates long cool growing conditions perfect for Cab Sauv and Syrah

Front 152

Cafayate

Back 152

Salta province, Argentina
- High altitude
- Large diurnal temperature differences allow aroma and flavour with acidity

Front 153

San Juan

Back 153

Argentina
Hotter climate

Front 154

Argentina

Back 154

- Planted close to Andes
- From subtropical north of Salta to Patagonia
- Most vineyards over 500m
- Salta vineyards over 2000m for cool climate near equator
- Low rain fall as in rain shadow of Andes
- Occasional Spring frosts in South
- Hail threat each summer

Front 155

Urugay

Back 155

Temperate, maritime
- Similar to Bordeaux
- Rain year round makes mildew and black spot a problem (Lyre system training to minimise)

Front 156

Brazil

Back 156

Most is too hot and lacks defined season to growth cycle of vine.

Serra Gaucho in South at high altitude = 80% production.
- damp makes rot and mildew a problem
- Also plantings along Urugay border and in tropical north