Climate change will profoundly modify the world's wine production, according to study

A recent study featured in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment reveals the dramatic effects of climate change on the global wine industry, forecasting a significant transformation in wine production geography. It suggests that traditional wine-producing regions like Spain, Italy, and Greece could face up to a 70% reduction in crop yields due to heightened temperatures, droughts, and vine diseases. In contrast, areas previously considered unsuitable for viticulture, such as southern England, the Argentine pampas, and higher elevations in the Andes, are poised to emerge as new wine-producing territories. The study underscores that the adaptability of both existing and potential wine regions will hinge on various factors, including temperature changes, water access, and the occurrence of extreme weather events. It also cautions against relying on irrigation as a coping mechanism, pointing out the susceptibility of irrigated vineyards to drought and the critical need for water conservation.