Champagne vines given room to grow as rule demanding distance between plants is ...

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Even the great traditions of wine growers in the champagne region are not immune to fears about climate change, it seems.

Yesterday the growers scrapped a century-old rule governing the distance between vines to cut the emissions produced by their machinery. 

For 100 years, the maximum allowed has been 1.5metres (5ft). This forces the vines to compete with neighbours, a struggle that helps them produce the ideal grape. 

But a 15-year study by growers, scientists and champagne houses found that larger spaces would allow a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions because machinery could work more efficiently. 

Despite fierce resistance from traditionalists, growers'

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