Climate resilience of European wine regions

Abstract

Abstract Over centuries, European vintners have developed profound knowledge about grapes, environment, and techniques that yields the most distinguishable wines. In many regions, this knowledge is reflected in the system of wine geographical indications (GI), but climate change is challenging this historical union. Here, we present the first climate change vulnerability assessment of 1174 wine GIs across Europe and propose climate-resilient development pathways using an ensemble of biophysical and socioeconomic indicators. Results indicate that wine regions in Southern Europe are among the most vulnerable, with high levels also found in Eastern Europe. Vulnerability is driven by the rigidity of the GI system, which restricts the exploitation of suitable bioclimatic conditions and existing grape cultivar diversity, as well as contextual deficiencies, such as limited socioeconomic resources. Building a climate-resilient wine sector will require rethinking the GI system by allowing innovation to compensate for the negative effects of climate change.