Where Vines Grow Well

Winemakers know that wine grapes grow best in climates that aren’t too tropical, too arid or too freezing! Most of the suitable climates are found between 30° – 50° latitude, both north and south. This means yay for Australia, Argentina, South Africa in the Southern hemisphere, and of course places like the USA, France, Italy, Greece etc in the Northern Hemisphere.

The climate of these regions is suited best to the growth of vines. In general, year-round weather conditions are referred to as the climate. Cool, dry climates produce crisp, light wines with bright fruit flavours, whereas warm climates lend themselves to bigger, bolder wines, soft in acidity with lush fruit flavours. It comes down to more than just macro location though. The exact planting of a vineyard is a considered thing, and there's a few factors at play

Soil type and fertility

Things like sand, clay, limestone and loam are the soil types chiefly found in vineyards. Sandy soils result in aromatic wines, low in tannin and pale in colour. Clay-based soils retain water and tend to be cooler, driving rich, bold reds and whites (Barossa shiraz, anyone?). Thus the type of soil in the ground is incredibly important when considering the vineyard area.

Weather conditions

Sun, wind and rain will make or break a vintage. The weather in spring determines the quality of the vintage, but it’s the last six weeks that dictates the quality of the fruit. Late rain will cause grapes to rot and frost can damage already-ripe fruit. Too much sun will “cook” the grapes, resulting in overripe, jam-like flavours.

Water/drainage

Vines need water, but they ripen best when water is just within reach. A vineyard with natural drainage (via rocky soils etc.) results in a wine of concentrated flavours, but too much water yields “overblown” fruit.