Pursehouse: Cool climate is the future of wine

Clive Pursehouse for Decanter

Cool climate wines may be the key to the future of the wine industry. North American Editor Clive Pursehouse presents his keynote at i4C+.

The 15th annual International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C+), a four-day event celebrating the wines of the host site, Ontario, as well as those from international regions, kicked off on 17 July 2025.

A consumer-focused agenda of wine tastings, food pairings and gala dinners, hosted by regional Chardonnay producers, included a one-day School of Cool featuring panels and seminars on the Thursday before the weekend’s festivities.

This year I was honoured to be invited to deliver the event’s keynote address and moderate the first panel.

The three panels discussed topics that ranged from the ageability of local Ontario-grown Chardonnay, the importance of Chardonnay in sparkling wines, and how Chardonnay appeals to modern consumers.

My keynote, which follows, was a meditation on the place that cool climate wines and wine regions will take in the future of the wine industry.

As the world evolves, I discussed the role that both a changing climate and demographic shifts play in positioning cool climate wines, as well as the connections to natural wines and the inevitable evolution that is much needed, yet still to come, in the wine ecosystem, particularly in the ‘New World’.

Read Clive Pursehouse’s keynote address here.

Photo Credit: Alina Zherdeva Photography