Greece to host climate change symposium November 21, 2007
Nico Manessis and Maggie Rosen
Greece is to host its first conference on climate change and wine.
The keynote speaker at the conference, which takes place on 1 December in Thessaloniki, will be Gregory V Jones, Professor and research climatologist at Southern Oregon University.
Theodoros Mavrommatis, lecturer on meteorology and climatology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, will discuss historical data for Europe, while his colleague Stefanos Koundouras will offer an analysis of the consequences of climate change specifically for Greek viticulture.
Angelos Iatridis, owner of Alpha Estate in Florina (one of the symposium's sponsors) will discuss the challenge to winemakers of having to adapt to constantly changing conditions.
Other speakers include Benjamin Bois, Ecole Nationale d' Ingénieurs des Travaux Agricoles de Bordeaux, who will speak on climate change and viticulture in Bordeaux, based on information obtained from grapevine models and recent observations of phenology and grape ripenings.
Finally, decanter.com contributor David Furer will address the impact of climate change on consumer taste and trends.
'As the only non-academic to participate in this conference, I thought it would be interesting to address the expectations of consumers and how to communicate with them,' he said.
A heavy polluter itself, Greece experienced some of the most severe weather patterns in memory this summer, including drought and intense heat waves with temperatures in excess of 45°(113°F).
Crops of all kinds were down by as much as 45% in some regions, with early-ripening white grapes suffering the most. While red grapes benefited from 'cooler' August and September conditions, irrigation - not usually necessary – became essential.
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