Terroir 2020 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Global warming effects on grape growing climate zones within the Rioja Appllation (DOCa Rioja) in north Spain

Global warming effects on grape growing climate zones within the Rioja Appllation (DOCa Rioja) in north Spain

Abstract

Aims: The aims of this work were (1) to assess the changes in some of the main bioclimatic indices used for climate viticultural zoning within the Rioja Appellation area in the north of Spain between 1950-2014 (60 years), and (2) to carry out a comprehensive sociological evaluation among grapegrowers and winemakers of this region, to better understand the impact of climate change on their activity, their degree of concern about it and the potential adaptation measures they would be willing to adopt to cope with it in future years.

Methods and Results: For the climatic evaluation, two high-resolution (5Km x 5Km) daily gridded temperature and precipitation datasets covering the years between 1950-2014 were used. Following the criterium of the World Meteorological Organization, two subperiods of 30 years were created. For the Winkler index (WI), the Huglin index (HI), the Growing Season average Temperature (GST) and the Growing Season Precipitation (GSP), the median for each subperiod was compared (at p<0.01 or p<0.05) using the Wilcolxon-Mann-Whitney test. A significant increase between 0.7 and 1.1°C of GST was found for most of the region between the two subperiods. This was reflected in changes in the WI and HI zoning within the region, with increased and predominant area in zones II and III for WI and H+1 and H-1 for HI. In terms of GSP, no significant changes were detected, but larger areas with GSP between 160 and 200 mm H2O were observed. Regarding the sociological approach, 481 on-site surveys with 29 different questions were conducted among grapegrowers, winemakers, consultants and other wine-related stakeholders. Some of the main findings include that 64.3% of respondents have experienced some negative impact, including economical effects. The main actions taken in the last years to cope with climate change were installation of irrigation, increase of crop insurance adoption against hail and frost, and adaptation to new pests and diseases.

Conclusions: 

Global warming was significantly detected in a 60 year period in the Rioja Appellation area, which caused changes in the grapegrowing climate zoning within the region. At social level, climate change was highly perceived by viticulturists and winemakers, which had started to adopt different actions to cope with increased temperatures and strong climate events. 

Significance and Impact of the Study: This work provides a unique, high-resolution diagnosis about climate change and viticultural zoning displacement within the Rioja Appellation, which is one of the top wine regions worldwide. Likewise, the sociological study is the first one carried out in this area, and offers valuable information for policy makers to drive mitigation and adaptation policies towards global warming in future years.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: March 17, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type: Video

Authors

Maria P. Diago1,2*, Lya Arpón1,2, Sergio Andrés-Cabello3, Carmen Bengoechea4

1Departamento de Agricultura y Alimentación. Universidad de La Rioja, Madre de Dios, 53. 26006. Logroño. La Rioja, Spain
2Instituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino (Universidad de La Rioja, CSIC, Gobierno de La Rioja) Finca La Grajera, Ctra. de Burgos Km 6. 26007 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
3Departamento de Ciencias Humanas. Universidad de La Rioja. Luis de Ulloa, 2, 26004, Logroño. La Rioja, Spain 
4Soluciones Turísticas. Avda. de la Sierra, 29, 4º A, 26007, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

Contact the author

Keywords

Climate change, Rioja, bioclimatic indices, viticultural zoning

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

Citation

Related articles…

Talking about terroir

When talking about terroir, scientists and lay wine tasters, very much including wine journalists and wine growers, too often talk past one another.

Read More

Influence of SO2 and Zinc on the formation of volatile aldehydes during alcoholic fermentation

Laboratório de Análisis del Aroma y Enologia (LAAE). Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain, During alcoholic fermentation, fusel (or Strecker) aldehydes are intermediates in the amino acid catabolism to form fusel alcohols following the Ehrlich Pathway (1). One of the main enzymes involved in this pathway is Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH), whose activity is highly strain dependent and determines the rate of conversion of aldehydes into fusel alcohols (2). This enzyme has a Zn2+ catalytic binding site, which suggests that the must Zn2+ levels will most likely influence the rate of reduction of aldehydes into alcohols. On the other hand, SO2 is commonly used in winemaking for its antiseptic and antioxidant properties.

Read More

Subsurface irrigation: a means to reduce chemical and water inputs in vineyards

Grape growers around the world are seeking to reduce their reliance on herbicides. However, traditional alternatives to chemical weed control do not always integrate seamlessly into established vineyard operations. Employing nonchemical weed management often requires trellis alterations, purchasing or hiring new equipment, and depending on region, may significantly increase tractor passes required to reach desired level of weed control. Critical thinking and thoughtful strategies are necessary to minimize expenditures and maintain quality during the transition away from herbicides. In this trial, irrigation was installed underground in an effort to minimize water loss due to evaporation, better direct the water to the vines, and reduce weed growth in the difficult to control undervine area.

Read More

Evaluation of field inoculation of Kocuria rhizophila and Streptomyces violaceoruber as biostimulants under water availability conditions in grapevines

Agricultural productivity must promote management systems that incorporate sustainability principles, and viticulture is no exception.

Read More

Bees, climate changes, and “environmental sustainability 4.1c” in viticulture and the territory for a new global multiproductive “biometaethical district 4.1c”

The use of bees as pollinators in vine varieties with physiologically female flowers (Picolit, Bicane, Ceresa, Moscato rosa, etc.) (Cargnello, 1983) and as bio-indicators for biodiversity and environmental sustainability is well-known. Furthermore, there are interests in: 1-a. Making the viticulture of Belluno (Province of Veneto in North-eastern Italy, which is also famous for the Dolomites -a UNESCO World Heritage-) regain the socioeconomic role which it is entitled to and which it had got in its past by aiming at the enhancement of local grape variety in harmony with others, for example with the neighboring area of the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG; 2-a. Maintaining and further improving the important natural and healthy environment of Belluno, and making its territory and the “lookout” means of the environmental sustainability, including its vineyards, even more naturally original and sustainable 4.1C.

Read More