Visit a vineyard and your host will probably deliver a passionate lecture about the unique soil, weather and other elements that make their wine so special. They are far less likely to mention the thin black hose snaking along the rows of vines close to the soil. This hose will water the vines through drip irrigation and possibly add fertiliser too. Some argue that in dry areas, it’s the only way to produce quality wine.
Irrigation used to have a bad reputation. For many years, it was banned in France and much of Europe. It was seen as a way of increasing quantity to the detriment of quality, and only suitable for table grapes. However, most French vineyards are planted in wet regions where irrigation would be pointless. Vast swathes of vineyards in the Mediterranean, the southern hemisphere and California would not survive without irrigation. With climate change, well-known wine regions in France and elsewhere may have to change, too.
Dry-farmed vines grown in hot arid climates can survive, but yields tend to be low, although the wines can be excellent. Irrigation can increase a vine’s production by up to 300 per cent, so there is certainly an economic argument in favour of it, provided it is done in carefully regulated quantities when the vine needs it. Some argue that with the help of sophisticated instruments, adding exactly the right amount of water at the right time can mean the vine will produce economic quantities of very high-quality grapes.
Flood irrigation, whereby vineyards receive large doses of water at one time, has a long history (including in some of the oldest vineyards in the world), is seen as clumsy and has fallen out of favour.
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Nowadays, drip irrigation is favoured by most growers. In some wine regions, water is in very short supply, and water rights must be bought, which can be very expensive. Many producers now have their own reservoirs or storage tanks to help manage usage.
