Are central European wines on the brink of extinction?

France, Italy and Spain are renowned wine producing countries. Unfortunately, however, these are also some of the countries becoming most associated with the devastating effects of the climate crisis. In particular, extreme high temperatures are damaging, and in some cases destroying, grapevines. Furthermore, droughts cause water stress to plants, which can lead to crop failure. The 2023 water shortages in Europe led to a significant drop in crop yields. And some countries fared worse than others, with Italy experiencing almost constant drought this year, which is causing big problems for wine producers there. “The climate crisis is not ideological, it is a dramatic reality in Sicily,” Angelo Bonelli, a spokesperson for the Europa Verde (Green Europe) political party, said while rallying outside government headquarters in Rome, in July. “​Farmers are uprooting vineyards, citrus groves, they are slaughtering animals because there is no water. This is a disastrous situation.” ...