The changing climate may make winegrowing conditions in McLaren Vale more like the Riverland and producers will need to adapt, according to the Climate Futures Group.

A world-leading resource developed in Australia will enable local grapegrowers and winemakers to plan for the effects of climatic variability and climate change that are forecast in the next decade and into the next generation. 

Developed by the Climate Futures Group at the University of Tasmania and funded by Wine Australia, Australia’s wine future: A Climate Atlas describes short- and long-term trends for Australian wine regions until 2100. 

The Climate Atlas features indices tailored for individual regions, with a focus on heat accumulation and aridity, and the likelihood of heatwave and frost. 

Currency Creek, McLaren Vale, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek and the Southern Fleurieu wine districts have each been mapped.

Temperatures are likely to rise between one and three degrees across all South Australian regions between now and the end of the century, while rainfall will vary widely.

Dr Rebecca Harris, Climate Futures Group lead and University of Tasmania climatology expert, says the project’s objective was to provide detailed climate predictions in an accessible and useful form to Australia’s wine producers. 

“The aim was to improve understanding of climate information and to empower communities to plan for the coming season and for the future.” 

The Climate Atlas provides a range of detailed insights for Australia’s wine regions, including an indication of which regions around the country are similar now to the projected conditions in 2100, allowing growers and wineries to look to their peers and viticultural experts for ideas on how to adapt for their future. 

Wine Australia General Manager RD&E Dr Liz Waters says the online atlas was a valuable resource to help the sector manage climate variability. 

“Extreme weather events have always posed a challenge for grapegrowers around the world and this new resource will help Australia’s growers to choose adaptive strategies tailored for the changes in their region based on inter-annual and decadal projections. 

“The very nature of viticulture means that the vineyards planted today could continue to produce fruit for future generations. Today, growers around Australia are the custodians of the vines planted by earlier generations and this atlas will help them understand how they can manage existing vineyards and plan new ones to ensure short- and long-term prosperity.” 

The Climate Atlas resource is available for download from Wine Australia and Climate Futures Tasmania.