December 22, 2022

Spain: climate change affects vines

Spain is the third country in the world in terms of wine production behind France and Italy. Spanish wine production represents nearly 5 billion dollars each year.In Spain, higher temperatures caused by global climate change are affecting vines and genetic researchers believe that vines older than 35 years are better able to withstand this natural phenomenon. The Rioja region has 500 wineries and represents 21% of Spanish wine production, totaling an annual turnover of more than $1.5 billion per year.Rioja wines which have been produced for hundreds of years, in the northern region of Spain, produce some of the best wines in the world. Winemakers struggle to produce good wine, they believe wine tasted better in the past when temperatures were generally cooler. The summer of 2022 was the hottest in Spain since record-keeping began in 1961. Researchers believe old vines may grow better at higher temperatures. The current vines produce grapes ready to be picked earlier, these do not produce a nice color or smell and we find that the wine also has too much alcohol. Climate change affects the taste of wine. The United Nations says climate change will lead to crop failure in Europe due to heat, dry and extreme weather conditions. Total wine production in Spain has decreased by 5-10% over the last four years starting in 2018.