Come proteggere un territorio viticolo: il punto di vista del giurista

Recurring heat and drought episodes during the growing season can produce adverse impacts on grape production in many wine regions around the world.

The wine sector is undergoing considerable transformation, particularly as a result of climate change and increasing consumer expectations for quality products, in a globalised and increasingly competitive market.

In the context of increasingly hot and dry summers, the adoption of innovative irrigation technologies has become essential for maintaining grape production while minimizing water use.

Global warming is one of the biggest environmental, social and economic threats in several viticultural regions. In the Douro Valley, changes are expected in the coming years, namely an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation. These changes are likely to have consequences for the production and quality of wine.

Climate is an important component or determinant of terroir, especially at the regional level. One can define three levels of terroir. These are the macro– or regional scale, which applies over tens of kilometres of the landscape. The second level is the meso- scale, which applies over kilometres or hundreds of meters, at the individual vineyard scale.