Welcome back, wine friends! This is part two with the brilliant wine journalist Kathleen Willcox, whose work you can find in Wine Searcher, The Drinks Business, Full Pour, and Wine Enthusiast. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, go back and check it out—we covered the evolution of wine styles, winemaking techniques, and unique wines you may have never heard of!
This week, we’re diving into a truly fascinating topic: Why Bhutan might just become one of the world’s next great wine regions and how vineyards at high altitudes are cleverly evading the challenges of climate change. Kathleen shares incredible insights on how elevation impacts grape quality, the role of antioxidants in wine, and how canopy management is evolving to adapt to warmer temperatures. Plus, we explore the future of high-altitude viticulture and whether it could become more accessible beyond premium producers.
If you want to skip ahead:
04.00: Bhutan’s first commercial vineyards and why it’s an exciting new wine region.
06.00: Bhutan’s carbon-negative status and sustainable wine potential.
07.00: Bhutan Wine Company – how it started and who’s behind it.
10.00: The unique terroir of Bhutan and its winemaking potential.
12.00: Experimenting with 17 grape varieties to find the best fit.
14.00: Wine tourism in Bhutan – could it become a destination?
16.00: How elevation impacts grape quality and wine balance
18.00: Antioxidants in high-altitude wines
22.00: High-altitude viticulture worldwide
24.00: "California Sprawl" technique for shading grapes in Napa
26.00: Challenges of high-altitude viticulture - Labor-intensive farming vs. machine harvesting
This conversation was inspired by Kathleen’s article: Will Bhutan be the worlds next great wine region and How vineyards closer to the sun are evading climate change
You can also follow her on Instagram to be able to read more of her articles HERE
Any thoughts or questions, do email me: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk
Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat
If you fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat
Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk
Until next time, Cheers to you!
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