Eau so lovely wines that go with the flow

MANY of the world’s finest wine regions feature rivers, lakes and even oceans: the Moselle, Rhône, Douro, Gironde, Loire rivers, Margaret River and Lake Garda to name but a few.As well as providing a scenic backdrop, they play an essential, often overlooked, role in winemaking. Quite simply, bodies of water dramatically change what happens during the growing season.

Water takes much longer to change temperature than air. So expanses of water act both as natural heaters and cooling agents – moderating the climate and resulting in fewer extremes of temperature. This helps produce consistent, high-quality grapes. Generally speaking, enough warmth for grapes to ripen fully whilst, at the same time, enough coolness to retain a balanced acidity. In addition there is less risk of damage from frost. In Germany, the Mosel River acts as a heater during cold nights and reflects sunshine and heat during chilly days in the region that bears its name. This warmth is essential to ripening the local riesling grapes.

Conversely, in the Douro valley on Portugal’s Iberian Peninsula, rivers cool the hot, arid vineyards, slowing ripening and ensuring refreshing acidity is not lost.

In warmer wine regions close to the sea, cool currents and the fogs and breezes they create mitigate daytime heat. This allows for a long growing season in South Africa’s Western Cape, Chile and New Zealand. So, enjoy the suggestions below and appreciate the delicious difference the world’s rivers, lakes, and oceans have on your glass of wine.