Climate variability and change have left a visible mark on the wine sector over recent decades. More frequent heatwaves, longer droughts, and unexpected frosts when the plant has already burst are reshaping grape growing and winemaking conditions worldwide. Grape growers, winemakers, and traders are witnessing these changes first-hand, with earlier harvests, shifting sugar and acidity levels, increased pest pressure, and even the gradual redrawing of traditional terroirs.
To help address these challenges, the European project ASPECT has been working closely with users in the wine sector to identify what climate information is needed to support decision-making. Together, we have co-designed a prototype climate service that provides actionable insights for the seasons and years ahead. This prototype includes key indicators related to frost damage, frost days, drought risk, and growing degree days. It is tailored for vineyard owners and managers, grape growers, winemakers, and others in the industry.
On Thursday 11 December, ASPECT hosted a webinar titled “Climate information for the wine sector: from seasons to years ahead”. This session, held at 11:00-12:30 CET, explored the challenges posed by a changing climate and how climate predictions can help the wine sector to adapt. During the webinar, we took a deep dive into the prototype and indicators co-developed in the project. This was followed by an interactive discussion where participants could share perspectives on the prototype and suggest improvements required to address their needs.
Antonio Graça from Sogrape kick-started the webinar with a keynote speech. ASPECT researchers Veronica Torralba and Carlos Delgado from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center then provided an introduction to climate predictions for the wine sector and an overview of the prototype developed in the project. Next, Kexin Geng from the University of Leeds provided insights on the use of climate information in Europe, derived from a large-scale survey conducted earlier in ASPECT. Finally, an interactive discussion in breakout groups gave attendees a chance to participate and share their own experiences, needs and feedback on this climate service. The session was moderated by Andria Nicodemou from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.