Healthy soils, native plants, and fewer chemicals are helping vineyards adapt.
More than 500 vineyards are scattered across the slopes and valleys of South Africa’s Western Cape, one of the world’s most biologically diverse landscapes. The region produces about 90 percent of South Africa’s wine, but winemakers there are increasingly struggling with drought, excessive heat and erratic rainfall.
Temperatures in the region have risen 1.5 to 2 times faster than the global average over the past five decades. And extreme storms have become more intense as climate variability increases. The late 2010s brought a significant challenge for winemakers, as three years of severe drought placed vineyards under intense stress and reduced grape production.
As climate variability places increasing pressure on grape production, many wine producers are building on sustainability measures that have long been part of vineyard management.
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