Ripe for the picking? Irish wine on the up but nobody will retire rich'

"Global heating is pushing the viability of grape ripening northwards," says Kees van Leeuwen, highlighting how climatic changes are transforming traditional wine production areas and extending them into regions like Ireland. "Conditions for growing crops have become more favorable in Ireland in the last 30 years," adds climatologist Paul Moore, emphasizing the significant warming trends and their implications for Irish viticulture.

David Llewellyn, an experienced winemaker, asserts, "the key factor was finding the right root stock and grape variety for cool and wet climates." He stresses that while certain varieties like solaris and rondo thrive in Northern climates, classic varieties like chardonnay still struggle in the Irish environment.

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