Viticulture and climate change: adapting vineyard management practices in the Mediterranean region

The IPCC’s reports present scenarios for climate change over the 21st century, leading to temperature rises of between 1.5°C and 5.8°C. Beyond the thermal perspective, other studies report substantial reductions in annual rainfall across the Mediterranean region. Consequently, the vine’s growing cycle is expected to take place during a period that is not only warmer but also drier than at present. Biomass production and the distinctive characteristics of the products are likely to be affected. Adaptation to climate change is being studied through complementary lines of research: - the modelling approach: the aim has been to project into the future using climate change scenarios. The models simulate the behaviour of the vine under different climatic conditions, with or without changes to cultivation practices; - the experimental approach: various changes to cultivation practices have been tested in the field to assess their effects on reducing water stress and/or shifting phenology.