The climatic challenges facing Chilean vineyards

The ‘El Niño’ phenomenon is a natural event that occurs frequently in the Pacific Ocean. Obviously and like any other phenomenon it can affect agriculture and of course vineyards and harvests.  Let us remember that the phenomenon is characterized by an unusual warming of the surface waters, which become warmer than normal. The trade winds, which normally blow from east to west along the equator, weaken or change direction. This results in a noticeable change in global weather patterns, including increased precipitation, higher global temperatures and extreme weather events. Just as the warm phase of this broader climate cycle is called ‘El Niño’, there is an expression for the cool phase and it is called ‘La Niña’.

All of this is important for Chilean vineyards. ‘El Niño’ causes greater cloudiness and water condensation.  This means higher rainfall and higher temperatures inland. This accelerates the ripening cycle of the grapes, which can result in wines with lower acidity and aroma concentration.  On the contrary, the influence of ‘La Niña’ means that sea surface temperatures are lower, condensation decreases and temperatures and thermal accumulation inland in Chile are lower. This means an increase in drought conditions in many regions of Chile, which can lead to higher water stress in the vines and consequently to smaller grape size, lower sugar concentration and reduced yields. Additionally, low temperatures, especially in spring, can lead to late frosts and delayed ripening.

In any case, our grape suppliers use different strategies to face all the challenges, firstly, efficient water management: optimizing irrigation systems and making a careful selection of varieties adapted to drought. Secondly, protection against frost and hail: For example, using sprinkler irrigation to raise the air temperature. In any case, monitoring weather changes is essential, facilitating quick and effective decision-making. 

The ‘El Niño’ and ‘La Niña’ phenomena are a major challenge from the point of view of winemaking. Nowadays, all the resources and agricultural techniques are used to adapt to each circumstance and always guarantee the excellence and quality of all wines.