It is difficult to predict what effect climate change will have on the vineyards of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, but most regions will have to adapt in some way.

This is the view of Pieter Rosenthal of corkandbottle.co.uk, who believes that the willingness of vineyards to move with rising global temperatures will be key to their future success.

"Where some cool-climate regions may benefit to a degree, giving more flexibility around suitable grape varieties as well as increased ripeness, we shouldn't look purely at temperature," he said.

Gregory V Jones, a climatologist at the University of Southern Oregon, recently suggested that the traditional grape varietals favoured in the major wine-producing areas - such as Pinot Noir in Burgundy and Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux - may not be viable if temperatures keep on rising.

He claims that the white grape varietals, such as Sauvignon Blanc, will be the worst affected, permanently changing the European wine landscape.

"Increased temperatures could result in a lack of water in some areas and much wetter conditions in others," Mr Rosenthal suggested.

"Both of these could make growing conditions more difficult."

Yet as rising temperatures may mean trouble for the traditional winemaking powerhouses, other areas could find themselves at the heart of a developing industry. The UK is one such area.

"Climate change is something that affects all wine regions in some way, shape or form. It is how areas adapt to this change which is important," Mr Rosenthal added.

"It is those at either margins that may be most affected. It is no coincidence that Champagne houses are sniffing around for suitable vineyard land in England."

Chris White, the general manager of the Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, recently told Yale University's Environment 360 that rising temperatures have lengthened the ripening period, creating higher quality fruit.