Armenia: historical origin of domesticated grapevine

Viticulture is exposed to a range of new stressors, that are challenging its sustainability and disrupting famous and well-established production regions. Steady increase of average temperature, recurring heat waves, altered rainfall seasonal distribution, drought spells, increased pathogens pressure, they all mix up with increased frequency, making every growing season a special challenge and calling for new approaches to cope with worrying scenarios.

Just over 150 years ago, phylloxera, daktulosphaera vitifoliae, was introduced to europe, and particularly france, from north america via imports of american vitis plants. This aphid, with its complex biology and life cycle, has spread rapidly to most vineyards, causing rapid and lethal decline of v. Vinifera vines due to the primary and secondary damage it causes to the roots. In response to this pest, and given the economic importance of the french wine sector, professional representatives organised into ‘agricultural societies’, scientists and public authorities rallied together to identify the exact causes, seek solutions and try to stem the serious socio-economic crisis that ensued.

Ten years have passed since the enactment and implementation of law no. 26,870 “national drink wine” in Argentina, a pioneering legislation worldwide that seeks to disseminate the cultural characteristics inherent in the production, elaboration, and consumption of wine, as well as its deep-rooted traditions.

In the current context of global climate change, anticipating the evolution of the oenological potential of emblematic grape varieties of regions such as Burgundy and Champagne is a guarantee of the sustainability of a sector which has considerable economic weight. however, if various models of climate change cast doubt on the sustainability of these grape varieties in these regions, appellation decrees, as well as consumer expectations, do not allow or consider the use of alternative grape varieties. In addition, control/compensation methods such as irrigation are also not permitted.

In its 2020 beating cancer plan, the european commission announced plans for mandatory warning signs for alcoholic beverages. However, no concrete legislative proposal has been put forward so far. Instead, ireland passed national legislation in 2023 that requires warning signs for all alcoholic beverages from 2026. Despite significant effects for the common market, the eu commission did not this challenge this law in the so-called tris notification procedure. We argue that the commission’s inaction is consistent with the case law of the european court of justice: in the absence of harmonized rules, member states have a large margin of discretion to enact national health measures.