A recent study published in the Reviews Earth & Environment magazine revealed that European wine is the most affected by global warming.
Researchers from French and Italian universities warn that an increase of more than 2°C in global temperature could make 90% of coastal and lowland wine regions unviable.
Specifically referring to the Northern Hemisphere, to regions in Spain, Italy, Greece, and also to Southern California.
Impact of climate change on European wines
The study highlights that the rising temperatures have advanced the ripening of grapes, altering their yield, composition, and final wine quality.
Furthermore, heatwaves and water scarcity could make wine production unsustainable in regions like the Southern Iberian Peninsula, Southern France, Po Valley, and the Northern coast of Italy.
These extreme conditions negatively affect both the yield and wine quality in these areas.
The researchers point out that between 49% and 70% of current wine regions may not adapt to the impacts of climate change, depending on the degree of global warming.
Under scenarios of severe warming, most Mediterranean regions below 45°N could become climatically unsuitable for wine production, with the only alternative being vineyards at higher altitudes.
On the other hand, between 11% and 25% of wine regions could experience an increase in production with rising temperatures. This is the case for Northern France, Tasmania (Australia), or Washington State on the West Coast of the United States.
Additionally, new suitable areas at higher latitudes could emerge, such as the Southern UK.
Challenges for viticulture: Can it adapt?
Facing these challenges, wineries like Familia Torres in Catalonia are already implementing adaptation measures, such as installing efficient irrigation and planting vines in higher areas.
These actions aim to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure the sustainability of wine production in the future.
