Bordeaux is well known for its structured, age-worthy red wines, made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with few other varieties as supporting actors, including Petit Verdot and the rarer Malbec and Carménère.

Although Bordeaux may not want to change its ways, global warming is real, and that means adapting or death. With increasing temperatures during the grapes’ growing season, the future does not look bright for Bordeaux producers.

Early January 2021, the INAO, the department in charge of French wine’s quality, finally authorized a set of new grapes for Bordeaux: Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan and Touriga Nacional. Two white grapes were included as well, Alvarinho and Liliorila.

While this may not sound like much to the average person, this is a very big deal. For wine purists, this is like saying Italians will now make pizza with apple puree instead of tomato sauce. What does this mean for Bordeaux wines? It means survival trumps tradition, and that climate change affects us in more ways than we thought.

Wine books will have to be rewritten, and wine lovers will need to reassess their knowledge about classic wine regions and their grapes, starting with Bordeaux.

The world of wine is ever-evolving, and nothing is set in stone. Do you think you know Bordeaux? Think again.

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