Terclim 2026 – Session 4: Current and future sustainability challenges of terroir-driven wines

Most vineyards use European grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera. L) grafted onto American rootstocks, as these are more resistant to phylloxera.

While GIs are inherently sustainable, as they are based on a strong link between the product and its terroir, they now face challenges such as market instability, climate change, and societal expectations.

Soil properties and rhizosphere microbial communities are increasingly recognised as critical determinants of grapevine performance and fruit composition, yet their combined influence remains underexplored in cool-climate viticulture.

The French Appellation of Origin system (AOC/AOP) is based on the delimitation of zones in which grapes and subsequent wines meet production criteria (pedo-climatic conditions of production, varieties, growing and wine-making practices) expressing the links with the terroir of origin.

Côte Roannaise AOP is an appellation recognized for its red wines. It is located in a foothill area, in the Loire department (France).

Soil quality and its virtuous management are one of the levers for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The wine industry is increasingly exposed to the combined effects of climate change, resource scarcity, and rising consumer expectations regarding environmental responsibility.

Drought can impact grapevine physiology, yield, berry composition and wine quality, as extensively demonstrated in controlled experiments (Flor et al., 2025; Hewitt et al., 2023).

Traditional terroir studies often rely on static environmental descriptors. However, the increasing complexity of viticultural systems under climate change demands a paradigm shift toward dynamic, predictive modeling.

In the context of climate change, the increasing frequency and intensity of hot and dry vintages lead to profound modifications in the physiological functioning of the vine and the composition of the grapes.

Climate change is poised to substantially alter viticulture in traditional wine regions, including the Douro winemaking region (DWR) of northern Portugal.

This study examines the influence of human factors on the configuration of wine route terroirs in São Paulo State, emphasizing the emergence of a modern producer profile.

Terroir well described empirically but a unifying physical theory explaining its existence and persistence remains elusive.

Over the last decade, the liberalization of EU regulations on planting rights has stimulated the emergence and development of local vineyards in regions where professional vineyards almost disappeared since WWII (Meloni and Swinnen, 2016).

Agroforestry in vineyards has been proposed as a strategy to buffer climatic stress, potentially moderating microclimate and enhancing water availability for the vines.