While climate change is very much becoming a topic of conversation for West Australian winemakers, we are not alone in our contemplation of what our wine-growing world will look like in a few years.

Canadian wine judge Michelle Bouffard, who is in WA for the first time as a judge at the Wine Awards of Western Australia in Mt Barker, says it’s been a subject dear to her since she produced a thesis on the subject for her Wine and Spirits Education Trust diploma in 2005-06.

While Canadian wine production is pretty small by Australian standards, it battles the same issues of a vast country with a multitude of different climates.

While it’s too early to judge the impact of climate change on Canadian wines, Michelle says one thing is sure - weather patterns are changing.

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“There are differing opinions about its impact and because Canada is a big country, the situation is different for every region.

“We make wine in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The situation and challenges are different in each province, so I think some areas will benefit from climate change, while others will struggle,” she says.

In Canada, much as in WA, smart wine growers are trying to understand what the changes mean for them.

In Quebec, for example, some people are starting to move away from hybrids to Vitis Vinifera, to cope with changing conditions.

Michelle said it was hard to simply answer what the climate change implications for the wine world might be.

“But it could mean a change of grapes in some regions, some new regions will appear and some might disappear, there will be new viticulture techniques in some areas, and wine style is definitely being impacted, with some winemakers facing challenges in the winery that are changing their method of production.

“Water is already a problem in some areas, scarce in some places and in others it will become even more of an issue where flooding, storm and hail are becoming more problematic. These are just a few examples,” she says.

In a bid to start understanding some of these issues, Michelle is organising an international conference in Montreal to raise awareness and create an exchange on a topic that she says should concern everyone.

While Michelle is on her first trip to WA, this is not her first time to Australia.

This will be her third time as an international judge in Australia. 

She has judged at the Sydney Royal Wine Show and the McLaren Vale Show - and has visited the Hunter Valley, Barossa, Eden, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Strathbogie Ranges, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania.

The Wine Show of Western Australia, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, has grown to become one of Australia’s best.

As part of the celebrations, two events are being held in the metropolitan area - including a Top 50 tasting at Il Lido in Cottesloe on October 20 from 1pm.

The canape-style lunch will give wine enthusiasts an opportunity to taste, compare and discuss the 2017 show’s top 50 medal-winning wines.

Sommelier Daniel Wegener, a long-time supporter of the show, will host the tasting.

Tickets for the stand-up lunch cost $80.

The Wine Show will culminate with its Gala Wine Show dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Perth on Friday October 27 from 6.30pm.

The trophy-winning wines of this year’s show will be announced at the black-tie dinner, with a menu designed to match.

The prestigious Singapore Airlines Trophy for Best Wine of Show will be announced.

A trip for two to Europe is included as part of this prize. Other trophies include Perth Airport Trophy for Best Red and Mount Barker Community Bendigo Bank Trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor overall.

Tickets are $185, or $1750 for a table of 10.

The Wine Show of Western Australia began in 1978 as part of the Mount Barker and Districts Agricultural Show.

It started with six classes in that first year and has now grown to 43 classes with 21 trophies, including the prestigious Singapore Airlines Trophy for Best Wine of Show.

The show attracts national and international judges and in 2017, chief judge Iain Riggs will be joined by Dave Brooks, Sarah Pidgeon and Cath Oates as panel leaders, along with judges Damien Hutton, Severine Logan, Andrew Cherry, Patrick Haddock and Dave Johnson, along with Michelle Bouffard who moved into the wine industry from classical music, studying classical trumpet.

An introductory wine course proved to be a revelation to her and she went on to complete her International Sommelier Diploma which she finished with top marks as well as the internationally recognised Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s (WSET) Diploma Program.

Michelle has gone on to teach and judge in many of the world’s major wine regions. From 2003-15 she  co-owned house wine, a Vancouver-based consultancy company, which offered private, corporate and public wine tastings, team building seminars, cellar management and private shopping advocating wine pleasure without pretence.

She has been a regular wine columnist for radio, television and a variety of local and national magazines.

More details on the Il Lido lunch and the gala dinner are available at www.wineshowwa.com.au or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wineshowofwesternaustralia/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/wineshowofwa/