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Tokaj under threat from climate change
Hungary is grappling with the impact of climate change following the hottest July on record with harvest starting in early August, according to reports.
Meteorological body HungaroMet reported last week that its summary data for last month revealed an national average mean temperature of 24.53 degrees Celsius, which was 3 degrees above the average for the years 1991-2020.
According to the data, the average mean temperature was over 25 degrees Celsius in large parts of eastern Transdanubia and the southern Great Plain, and even reached 26 degrees Celsius in smaller areas.
In the lowlands, it was around 23 and 25 degrees Celsius, while monthly averages below 20 degrees Celsius were only recorded in the highest mountains.
As a result, one grape-grower in Balatonelle, Laszlo Kerek, in western Hungary told Reuters that “nothing else but climate change” was responsible for the situation and the early harvest.
Concerningly, the temperature changes could threaten the viability of white wines, especially Tokaj in eastern Hungary, with its late harvest wines.
In order for viability to continue, there will need to be cool and humid October, although risk from unpredictable autumn weather “can be a bit lower” if grapes ripen earlier, one winemaker told the publication.
In addition, a climate scientist at Eotvos Lorand University, Peter Szabo, said Hungary’s winemaking regions have seen an increase of 25% in growing degree days, and that this will continue to rise but “will then no longer be ideal for white wine.”
As a result, Szabo said that winemakers may need to adapt to the climate, including production of red wines, as well as adaptation and mitigation in order to continue growing white grapes.
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