Burgundy’s Vineyards Haven’t Been This Hot Since the Black Death

French vintners haven’t lived through such a succession of hot weather and dry harvests since at least the time of the Black Death in the 14th century.

Weather extremes that could now be considered normal for anybody under the age of 30 are unprecedented in historical records going back to when Europe was recovering from the pandemic that eviscerated the population. That is the conclusion of researchers who examined temperature, grape harvest, and wage data dating back to 1354, according to a study in the European Geosciences Union journal Climate of the Past.

Old and dusty wine bottles sit in the cellar at the Clos Saint Jean vineyard, in the Burgundy

“Outstanding hot and dry years in ...