Known more for its industrial heritage than its vineyards, Hull could one day rival Bordeaux in the world of fine wine, according to a new report forecasting how climate change is transforming global wine production.
The prediction comes from the first annual Fine Wines and Restaurants Market Monitor, published by consultancy firm Bain & Company, which outlines how rising temperatures are expected to shift the ideal growing regions for cabernet sauvignon — one of the world’s most prized red grape varieties — northward.
By 2100, Bordeaux is expected to be too hot and dry to support the grape, while parts of northern France, Germany, England and even southern Scandinavia could become ideal locations for its cultivation. According to the report, Yorkshire — with the cut-off point just north of Hull — could mark the most northerly viable zone in England for cabernet production.
Currently, southeast England is the only part of the UK where the grape can be grown successfully. The new projections suggest that Beverley could one day rival Bordeaux, and Leeds may become a future Loire Valley for wine lovers — although Middlesbrough and Scotland are expected to remain unsuitable due to cooler, wetter climates.
The report highlights the broader implications of global warming for the wine industry:
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