One of the world’s most renowned wine regions, Tokaj in Hungary, is facing a serious threat as climate change leads to increasingly unpredictable harvest times. This year, the harvest began a full month earlier than usual, a shift attributed to climate change, which could jeopardize the region’s iconic Tokaj wines.
According to Reuters, Hungary experienced an unusually hot growing season, with July marking the hottest month since record-keeping began in 1901. Scientists warn that if such temperatures persist, the country could become too warm to produce white wines, including the famous Tokaj. Growing degree days, a measure of accumulated heat used in agriculture, have risen by 25% in Hungary’s wine regions, signaling a significant shift in climate conditions.
Peter Szabo, a climate scientist at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, expressed concern that Hungary’s climate may soon no longer be suitable for white wine production if these trends continue. Laszlo Kerek, a grapegrower in the Balatonboglár region, noted that this year’s harvest started a month earlier than usual, reflecting the ongoing climate changes. Peter Varga, owner of Varga Winery, even described Hungary as “the new Mediterranean,” though he acknowledged that growers would need to adapt to these changes.
In Tokaj itself, winemaker Andras Kanczler from Basilicus Winery mentioned that while warmer seasons might reduce the risk of wet weather later in the year, the overall impact of these changes on Tokaj wines remains uncertain.
This situation in Tokaj echoes broader concerns in the global wine industry, as regions worldwide grapple with the effects of climate change on traditional winemaking practices.
