Analysis of climatic changes in different areas of Abruzzo region (Central Italy): implications for grape growing

The dynamic evolution of some bioclimatic indices largely used to define the vocation of areas to grape growing was assessed over 43 years (1965-2007) in four sites of the Abruzzo Region (Central Italy). Nowadays Abruzzo has about 34.000 ha of vineyards mainly located in coastal areas running North-South along the Adriatic Sea, while the inland mountainous areas reduced their importance in the last 60 years.
In the maritime areas, represented by Lanciano and Nereto weather stations, rainfall amounts during vegetative period (from April to October) showed a reduction around 1980 while average growing degree days (GDD) remained stable until 1997, when a sudden increase (change point) of about 320 GDD was registered in Lanciano, but not in Nereto. This Northern maritime area became slightly cooler: average air minimum temperature during vegetative phase decreased in 1971-1977 period, and also air maximum temperature decreased after 1985. In the inland area (Sulmona), “change point” analysis revealed a sudden increase of average GDD, maximum and minimum air temperature around 1980, but no quick change in rainfall was assessed.
In Abruzzo Region, as already reported for other areas of Europe, changes of some climate parameters influencing grape ripening and composition occurred in these last decades, but with different modality according to the characteristics of the area.