Vinexpo Bordeaux 2019 Tackles Global Climate Change Disruption of Industry at Inaugural International Symposium on May 14

Vinexpo Bordeaux 2019 is headlined by the launch of its inaugural ‘International Symposium’ focusing on the challenging impact of global climate change on traditional viticulture.

As socio-economic sectors across the world begin to feel the consequences of global climate change, its future impacts on the wine and spirits industry are growing increasingly clear.

Vinexpo Bordeaux 2019, the world’s leading meeting place for wine and spirits professionals, will address the issue head-on with a groundbreaking symposium – its first ever – on May 14, the second day of its four-day show in the wine capital of the world, Bordeaux, France.

The full-day symposium will include three conferences exploring the effects of climate change on the world’s vineyards, vineyard management and winemaking and the wine economy.

In association with Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council and moderated by CNN correspondent Jim Bittermann, the sessions bring together some of the world’s foremost scientists, economists, academics and wine industry professionals including Jeannie Cho Lee, the Hong Kong-based wine critic, author, wine educator and Master of Wine.

The Impact of Climate Change on Global Vineyards

The growing impact of declining water supplies, more frequent extreme weather and rising temperatures on grapevines and production is addressed by Michel Jarraud, secretary-general emeritus of the United Nations World Meteorological Organization, and Jean-Robert Pitte, president of the Society of Geography and the French Wine Academy.

Keynote speakers at a roundtable on ‘How to Produce and Adapt in Unstable Environmental Conditions’ are oenologist Laurent Panigai; deputy director general of the Wine Center–Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte; Jonathan Ducourt, sales and marketing manager of Vignobles Ducourt; and Catherine Le Page, managing director of National Cognac Office.

Also participating via recorded interview is Gregory V. Jones, director of the Evenstad Center for Wine Education and professor of environmental studies at Linfield College, Oregon.

The conference will be followed by an interview with master of wine Jeannie Cho Lee, MW, and conclude with a roundtable, How to Produce and Adapt in Unstable Environmental Conditions.

Map showing current (1961-2000) wine-growing areas and future wine-growing areas (2041-2060): regions with current suitability that decreases by midcentury are in red, areas with current suitability that is retained are in light green and dark green, areas not suitable in the current time period but suitable in the future are in light blue and dark blue.
Fig 1 in Lee Hannah, Patrick R. Roehrdanz, Makihiko Ikegami, Anderson V. Shepard, M. Rebecca Shaw, Gary Tabord, Lu Zhie, Pablo A. Marquet and Robert J. Hijmans, ‘Climate change, wine, and conservation,’ *PNAS*, Vol. 110, No. 17, p 6908.

The Impact of Climate Change on Vineyard Management and Winemaking

In a partnership with Wine Spectator, this conference will identify climate-related changes that are already being observed in vine physiology and wine quality and explore solutions under development by leading researchers around the world to reduce future impacts on the wine and spirits industry.

Special guest speakers will be Philippe Mauguin, president of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and Brice LaLonde, former minister of the environment and president of the Académie de l’eau.

A debate moderated by Wine Spectator’s Dana Nigro will follow, exploring the topic “How can research and technologies support producers in their evolution and adaptation strategies?” Panelists include Katie Jackson, vice president of sustainability at Jackson Family Farms; Dan Johnson, PhD, managing director of The Australian Wine Research Institute; Pau Roca, director general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine; and Miguel Torres Jr., president of Bodegas Torres in Spain and a member of Primum Familiae Vini Institute.

Climate Change Shifting World Wine Map

As rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall shift the boundaries of wine-growing regions, threatening production in some of the world’s most time-honored territories while creating new opportunities in regions to the north, this conference presents a global foresight study by Patrice Geoffron, professor of economics at the University Paris-Dauphine.

Two roundtables follow: “How do Wine Producers Integrate Climate Change into their Business Strategy?” features Christian de Boissieu, economist and professor of economics at Paris/Sorbonne; Antonio Amorim, CEO of Antonio Amorim in Portugal; and Eduardo Chadwick, CEO of Viña Errazuriz in Chile.

“Who are the Winners of Climate Change? Where are the New El Dorados?” presents Pedro Ferrer, vice president and CEO of Freixenet; Bruno Kessler, chief winemaker at InVivo Wine; and Éric Giraud-Héraud, economist and deputy director of Institute of Grape and Wine Science.

Bringing the conference to a close is a presentation of the United Nations Climate Change secretariat’s main lines of intervention to combat climate change, presented by communications officer Judith Adrien.

In addition to its inaugural symposium, Vinexpo Bordeaux 2019 will feature four full days of exhibitions, networking opportunities, and educational sessions. It will be held at Bordeaux’s Parc des Expositions, just 20 minutes from the historic town center and some of the world’s most storied vineyards. Attendees can register online at a special price of €40 through to May 12; the price will increase to €60 online or at the door starting May 13.

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